Richard Lewis Said: On Thursday February 22, I utilized Prime Minister’s Questions to ask the Prime Minister for details about the property on Friars Hill Road currently housing the Development Control Authority (DCA), The Ministry of Lands and Housing, and the Land Office.CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WHATS APP GROUP
On the question of ownership, he confirmed that his son and an unnamed investment group were the owners of the property.
It is noteworthy that all three offices housed within the building fall under the ministerial portfolio of the Prime Minster’s Wife, Hon. Maria Browne.
The Prime Minister further revealed that the property was occupied by Government offices rent-free.
When asked if the Government had made repairs to the property, he claimed that the improvements to the property cost Government more than the value of the unpaid rent.
However, when asked how much these repairs cost the tax-payers, the Prime Minister said he had no idea.
These revelations pose several important questions:
– Is it appropriate for the Government to be renting property from the Prime Minister’s son, especially without disclosure to the general public?
– Who negotiated the lease; what were the terms of the lease agreement?
– Did any of this go out to tender?
– Was this the most reasonable price space available on the island?
– Did the Government spend a fair amount on the repairs?
– How can the Prime Minister claim that what is owed in rent exceeds what the Government spent on repairs, yet is unable to give even an estimated figure on the cost to the tax-paying public?
This is an unacceptable state of affairs, which reeks of nepotism and warrants further investigation.
Government resources must be spent in a responsible and accountable way, especially by an administration who is raising taxes left and right and center.
Richard S. Lewis MP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WHATS APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WHATS APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WHATS APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WHATS APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WHATS APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WHATS APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WHATS APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WHATS APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WHATS APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WHATS APP GROUP
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
@ Richard Lewis
These are solid and pertinent questions that require profound answers from the PM.
He takes us all for fools, like VC with his weedy weedy bush crap. Gaston take us for fools and patronising us.
WE SHOULD NOT PUT UP WITH THIS CORRUPTION ANYMORE!!
Boy Richie u really a try, but not even dis can help u become party leader. Dem say you can read and write (unlike ur 2 opponents) but you SPINELESS like a jellyfish. Plus de Chairman loyal to brother Lovell and no space in she heart fu any JAMAICAN FISRT LADY in Antigua 🤣 😆 😂
Mrs. ARRINDELL done tark
@Smh. How about addressing the damn substance of the article?. Don’t you have family, children? Don’t you see they can’t “ketch” a break because everything going to one family?
The People’s money was use to renovate a building on Friars Hill Road.That building is partly owned by the son of the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda.Gas-Man Browne did say the DCA is getting a year free of rent.However,it is not free.The renovations were done with our damn money.The winner in this matter are the owners of said property.For their assets surely increased after those renovations were completed.What we as a society need to do.Check the value before the renovations were done and now.I cannot wait to see Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos of Antigua and Barbuda going to Hotel 1735 wearing handcuffs and ankle chains.A guilty conscience needs no accusers.Could that be the real reason,he spilled his guts in the Congress last week in Antigua.
Well said your Honourable Richard Lewis, I’ve been screaming from the rooftops for sometime that Nepotism in the public sector is draining the country’s economy.
With Nepotism, short cuts are made in employing the correct personnel, and due diligence is regularly overlooked because of family connections.
DON’T LET UP SIR, YOU ARE PUTTING THE COUNTRY FIRST 👍🏾
@ BRIXTONIAN
RICHARD LEWIS is next in line to resign. UPP don’t like you.Your wife is Jamaican. You should marry an Antiguan. Please come home to ABLP. Leave those CRIMINALS with Their Party.
In the interest of full disclosure and to avoid allegations of nepotism, make a copy of the lease public.
“To my surprise, Bro. Harold changed his mind and decided to run, but didn’t see it fit to even inform me. Instead, I received several calls from individuals suggesting that I BACK DOWN.”
history repeats itself
Not that this is not important; but it pales when compared to the Air Peace deal.
If each Party GOAB and Air Peace puts in two aircraft into the LIAT(2020)
Isn’t it expected that each party would get about the same approximate ownership around the 30% mark.
For whom is Air Peace hold the 40% ownership?
Forty percent ownership (which is unaccounted for) in the new LIAT (2020) makes the DCA lease arrangement look like chump change.
All for me and none for thee!
Nepotism, favoritism, at its best!
Hmmm!
Antigua needs divine intervention!
perfect photo ANR. Sums up the clown and wimp trying to overthrow YOUNG Mr. Pringle. Even though he is not the smartest or most educated, Mr. Pringle has a BACKBONE. He is no pushover and is well liked. his baby mamma is ANTIGUAN, not a “foreigner”
Keep asking the questions so they can be on record. Time will uncover how lie Gaston Browne is. What a idiot that dunce is! Standing in what is supposed to be an”honorable” house and dragging it down into the mud.
If this isn’t conflict of interest, I don’t know what is. Only the red cool aid members of the ALP cult will believe this clown. He has absolutely no credibility. None.
Gatson Browne is Donald Trump 2.0. The two of them govern the same damn way, just corrupt.
Now if any of you on here like the way Donald Trump govern, then I can see how you can like this joker call Gatson Browne, and I seriously doubt any honest person in Antigua would tell you that they like Donald Trump and his loud filthy mouth.
These two men are supporters of a dictator (Putin).
Is this what we really want to continue in Antigua?
All for them and nothing for anyone else. They would get with the rich and rip the country. All of self and none for are we.
The questions MP Lewis asked are extremely relevant. Whether you support red or blue, this situation is absolute nonsense. Agricultural is being repurposed to residential and disenfranchising farmers 2 weeks after the PM declared that the government would be investing more into agriculture and food security. The public is still being kept in the dark about public spending, yet a new procurement process has been put in place to hold the smaller man accountable, while nepotism runs wild in the government. If anyone cares about our small country, this conflict of interest will be addressed.
Comments are closed.