Eustace denies telling foreign journalists PM received money from David Ames

Leader of the Opposition Arnhim Eustace has denied that he told foreign journalists, by way of an interview, that Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves received money from David Ames, Chairman of Harlequin Resorts.{{more}}

Eustace, on the New Times programme yesterday said that he was not prepared to speak on the issue just yet, as he was planning a media conference “in a day or two”, but said that the British journalists asked for an interview and he granted them one, because they had some concerns.

“But I never said anything like that,” Eustace said.

The Leader of the Opposition said that he had heard the prime minister’s comments that the BBC journalists were accusing him (Gonsalves) of accepting bribes.

“So what, he wanna turn it around on me?

“Where will I get information that he (Gonsalves) accepted anything?

“That particular issue you raised; Gonsalves is a liar! The evidence will be revealed shortly and people will see it,” Eustace said.

Gonsalves on Sunday called in to We FM, while in Antigua, en route to the CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in Haiti, to draw the public’s attention, that he was told by a man that foreign journalists had interviewed the Leader of the Opposition on Wednesday last week and on Thursday, the man he spoke to informed him that Eustace had made an allegation that he had received money from Ames.

Gonsalves said that the individual said that he saw the video of Eustace making the allegation after the man met the two journalists at their hotel.

Gonsalves said while on a LIAT flight in Barbados on Sunday, as he got up to disembark from the aircraft, two men – one with a camera and the other with a tape – recorder accosted him as he about to take his luggage from the overhead bin.

He said they told him that they had three witnesses who will testify that Dave Ames came to his office with a briefcase of money and then left without it.

The Prime Minister strongly refuted the claim, saying that in the more than 40 years that he has been in politics, he has never accepted a bribe. (DD)