Questions continue over sale of lands at Chatham Bay
THE SALE OF Chatham Bay, Union Island, by the New Democratic Party (NDP) administration to an entity referred to only as AHRA LLC, has become one of the numerous stories involving the scrutiny of land sales in the region.
Now, questions are being raised online and in other fora about the corporate structure behind the company identified as AHRA LLC, and more specifically, the timing of its incorporation, the entity that filed the incorporation paperwork and any likely potential conflicts of interest in state transactions.
Over the years, St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) has had several land deals questioned.
From issues with Canouan Investors being granted a 99 year lease to two-thirds of Canouan, to queries over the purchase of lands by Sandals in Buccament and Mt. Wynne, and the lease of lands in Richmond to Rayneau Constructions for quarry operations, such questions over the involvement of governments in issues regarding the sale and/or lease of land are not new in the Caribbean and certainly, not in SVG.
What, however, is different about the most recent Canouan transaction in SVG, is that the makeup of AHRA LLC is shrouded in secrecy, with many people asking the same questions: Who owns or controls it? Who authorised its involvement? What role it is intended to play? and whether any person involved in the transaction has competing obligations or interests that were required to be disclosed.
Click here to subscribe to read the full article in the E-paper!
Comments
