The Barbados Labour Party (BLP) continues to pressure the government on the lack of transparency surrounding the Cahill Waste to Energy project proposed to be located at Vacluse, St. Thomas. The political meeting held by the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) at Tyrol Cot on the weekend reinforced concerns raised by the Opposition Barbados Labour Party during the recent budget debate.
Two non-Cahill issues were raised by Mia Mottley which have not caught the public’s interest to the same degree as the Cahill project. Mottley accused minister Michael Lashley of instructing the Board of the National Housing Corporation the Cabinet of Barbados had revoked a contract awarded to Rotherley Construction to build units at Exmouth a few days before the last general election. Instead, he advised the contract to be awarded to BJ Investments. However, the minutes of the Cabinet meeting contradicts Lashley’s instruction to the Board. Is this not a serious matter as well, one of poor governance? Where is the outrage? Why do we have a government blindly committed to giving most of the government projects to JADA PRECONCO – Mark Maloney Bjorn Bjerkhamn companies? We know the answer! What about the accountably and credibility of the Cabinet associated with collective responsibility?
The other issue BU would urge the local media to pursue is the decision by the government to pay a 25 million dollar dividend from the revolving Housing Credit Fund (HCF). The proceeds of the dividend was used to pay Preconco (there is that name again) for the GROTTO project (still unoccupied). Why the unholy haste to pay Bjerhamn and co while ordinary Bajans continue to wait for years to receive Income tax and Vat refunds? There is something immoral and unethical by a government who should be concerned with managing the affairs of the people, by the people and for the people. BU believes there is an injustice worthy of national debate – the fact Bjerhamn sits on the Board of the Central bank – did he Bjerhamn recuse himself when the matter of paying a dividend on the HCF was discussed and agreed by the Board? BU invites Dr. Justin Robinson to clarify this matter and while doing doing so to update us on the promise to produce financial statements of the NIS. Please also explain the 5 million dollar deposit reported to be held by the Central Bank in the name of Leroy Parris. How is it possible to give the Governor and Board a pass on this matter? Are we a Fig Republic?
So many transactions which have the smell of impropriety by a government elected on a promise to be transparent yet Barbadians continue to go about business as usual.
There is another issue transacted by the government through the minister of finance who is reported to have issued a letter to Royal Bank on behalf of a Preconco Mark Maloney project we need clarified (in our dreams!). Why Royal Bank? Is it because Doug Maloney is a retired Vice President of Royal Bank and continues to be a director? What influence does Mark Maloney and co have in the circumstances? DD please do your thing!
To those who say those of us who ask questions are being political, BU’s response is to offer a quote – “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty”
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