Francis answers Eustace’s $60 million question

Opposition leader Arnhim Eustace is demanding that the government disclose to the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines what happened to US$60 million which was to be paid to government by Canouan Developers.

“I asked for information as to where is the $60 million that the people are supposed to have paid for the land in Canouan. Where is that money? Is it in the government account? {{more}}Where is that money,” Eustace stated on a call in programme on Nice Radio Programme on Tuesday.

However, Unity Labour Party Senator Julian Francis refuted the statement made by Eustace stating that it is not US$60 million; but in fact US$20 million which is about EC$60 million.

The opposition leader further went on to say that he raised the question after it was brought to his attention that some lands in Canouan were being advertised for sale on a European website.

“One of the reasons I am asking this question you know, yesterday somebody called in close to the end of the programme and was reading from a website in which land in Canouan was being advertised for sale…,” Eustace said.

“So I want to know how come, who is it that is offering Canouan land for sale overseas from the very same land that supposed to fall under the $60 million?”

He pointed out that people in St Vincent and the Grenadines and moreover the people of Canouan need to be told what that status of the money is.

“Is it there? That is what I want to find out. If it was used already; what was it used for? And I can’t believe it could have been used already except [if] it went to something very big. I am going to keep asking that question virtually every time I speak; I want to know where is that money. I think the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines deserve to be told, especially the people of Canouan deserve to be told be told exactly when that payment was made,” he said.

Francis stated that the matter was debated on in the Parliament on June 6 and 7, 2013.

“They walked out on the 7th,” he added.

Additionally, Francis noted that the debate is documented in the Hansard.

Eustace, on the other hand, however told SEARCHLIGHT on Wednesday, that he had never heard of any $60 million before.

“That has never come up before, that never came up before. The first time I am hearing of that is this week.”

He added that he would persistently be asking questions about what happened to the money until he receives answers. (CM)