The Gonsalves Government has announced that it will swap lands it owns at Orange Hill for a parcel at Sandy Bay that just so happens to be owned by Deputy Prime Minister Montgomery Daniel, who is also parliamentary representative for North Windward, where both communities are located.
The land is supposedly going to be used to build houses for those who were displaced by the Soufriere eruption and as a clinic.
Evidently, the Government’s poor mismanagement of the Soufriere eruption and poor health policies during the COVID crisis may have meant this was an essential move but why was Daniel the only one who seemed to have the appropriate land?
With the Government unable to account for a missing $95m, it is only right that we have the ability to scrutinise this deal? Was there a financial benefit for Daniel? Was due process followed? Were others given the option for the land swap? Or was it simply a convenient way to look out for their own?
We are of course not saying that process wasn’t followed, but given their poor management, it is only fair these questions are answered.