PM Gonsalves gives detailed answers to BBC’s questions

Nine questions which were asked of Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves by the BBC television show Panorama, have been answered extensively in a 12-page letter to the show’s producer, Matthew Chapman.{{more}}

Chapman, in an email to Gonsalves on February 26, had said the BBC was working on a programme which looks at the UK pension investment market, and how investors in Harlequin Properties, may face, in some cases, losing almost all their pension savings.

The producer said in the programme, they were likely to be raising a number of issues and wrote to invite Gonsalves’ response to nine questions.

The first three questions allege that on three occasions, Harlequin CEO David Ames met with the Prime Minister and each time left a substantial amount of US currency. Gonsalves, in his response said, “I had no encounter with Mr Ames anywhere involving money whether being left by itself or “changing hands”, in June 2011 or at any other time or anywhere.”

Question four asks for details of the occasions on which the Prime Minister attended the Buccament Bay Resort, including the dates and a full list of those who accompanied him, and the amount of hospitality he received. The Buccament Bay Resort is being developed by Harlequin.

Gonsalves said the only occasion on which he and his family received, for free, the hospitality of the resort was at a lunch in the public dining area, at which he was accompanied by his wife, his mother-in-law, his two daughters and two of their friends. According to Gonsalves, the lunch bill was under US$100. He said the head waiter did not accept payment, although he insisted. Gonsalves said on return to his office, he called Harlequin’s local lawyer Samuel Commissiong to protest that his payment had been refused. He said he also later complained to the general manager and Ames. He said other than that, he had only been to the resort for official events.

The Prime Minister was asked in question five, to explain in detail, the terms by which Ames was offered citizenship by the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines. Giving a similar response to the one given in Parliament a few months ago, Gonsalves referred Chapman to the Citizenship Act, Chapter 117 of the Laws of St Vincent and the Grenadines, particularly Sections 9, 14 and 18.

In question six, the Prime Minister is asked about the current and historical position regarding land ownership and planning permission at the Buccament Bay site. In answering, he referred Chapman to the lawyers for Harlequin in St Vincent and the Grenadines and the Physical Planning Board.

In question seven, the Prime Minister is asked to respond to allegations made by Canadian lawyer Margaret Parsons that he had “attacked and sexually assaulted” her in his office. In his response, Gonsalves said the “false allegation” was “tested in the legal and prosecutorial system” of SVG and “found wanting”.

“Interestingly, Ms Parsons, a lawyer, did not avail herself of her right to challenge to the fullest extent the DPP’s decision by way of judicial review to the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Privy Council; neither did she initiate civil proceedings against me in the High Court…. She opted instead, to malign me with false allegations and defamatory assertions on the Internet and through political opportunists and others with their own self-serving agendas on the ground in St Vincent and the Grenadines and elsewhere,” Gonsalves responded, in part.

Questions eight and nine pertain to Reuben Morgan, a holder of an SVG diplomatic passport, who was arrested in London and charged with possession of cocaine. In response, Gonsalves pointed out that the matter was investigated; there was a trial and Morgan was acquitted. The Prime Minister also explained why Morgan had been given the diplomatic passport. He said from the moment Morgan was detained, the diplomatic passport was withdrawn and was never returned.