15 Acres of Prime Barbados Real Estate Exchanged for 6 Cents per acre
Submitted by Anthony Davis More ‘messy’ and ‘painful’ austerity measures are on the cards for Barbadians, as Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler has hinted […] at additional tax rises and structural adjustments. – BARBADOS TODAY, 04 December, 2015 Let me first deal with the last paragraph of your diatribe, Mr. Minister of Finance. You admonish…
Let me first deal with the last paragraph of your diatribe, Mr. Minister of Finance. You admonish the populace of Barbados to stop complaining about the taxes which you have imposed on them. In the meantime you are bellyaching about not having enough taxes, therefore you must hike some, and impose some new ones. What needs to be done is for you to spend what you receive from the taxpayers wisely, and you would have enough to do almost everything. You cannot continue to give away our taxes as if they were your own, and turn around and say that you have “a low cash flow” when it comes to things which pertain to Barbados and its populace!
Let me remind you of how you spend our taxes, and then want to come crying to us, as if we have money trees in our backyards:
In the Executed Heads of Term Agreement signed on March 15, 2014, Clause 5.1 states: No later than 3 months after the date of the Final Agreement the Government shall sell to CEB for the sum of US$1 the freehold of the proposed site . . .and convey the site into the name of CEB. The site will be sold with vacant possession on completion and without restriction.
5.2 The Government shall pay or waiver all stamp duty, transfer and registration taxes or levies payable in relation to the transfer of the site to CEB and the registration of title to the site in the name of CEB.
It is enunciated in the Incorporated Terms Memorandum Agreement signed on March 15, 2014 that ‘site’ means: An area of 15 acres forming part of a larger area . . . of Vaucluse Plantation.
Clause 3 titled ‘Exclusivity, stated.
Government hereby grants CEB the exclusive right ‘to all waste arising out of Barbados during the Term that falls within the Waste Specification inclusive all waste tyres but excluding any shredded waste tyres imported by CEL.
Do you remember this Agreement Mr. Minister of Finance?
You signed off on it, because you were giving away something which you were not entitled to give away – our hard earned taxes!
Can anyone imagine what it would be like to be sold 15 acres of prime Barbados real estate for just over 6 cents per acre?
How did you come to such a conclusion?
That is not even the price of a return ticket to any destination in Barbados, and you come to us talking a load of codswallop about not complaining about taxes when all you do is give them away instead of spending them on education – which should be free at UWI level as you and your ilk got yours free – welfare, and health!
You also turned your backs on the people at present in the waste industry.
We don’t want other people’s garbage!
We have enough of our own.
Addressing the opening of the UN Green Climate Fund-sponsored national sensitization consultation at the Central Bank, the Minister of Finance said: “The threat from climate change is serious and growing, and will require urgent attention to combat the effects.”
He further stated: “While Barbados would be working with global partners, the country was willing to lead by example ‘towards a carbon neutral future’ . . .”
Pray tell me, Mr. Minister of Finance, where does a Plasma gasification unit planted on prime real estate in the middle of Barbados fit into “leading by example towards a carbon neutral future”?
This is nothing but hollow rhetoric being put out there by this Minister, and therefore this whole Government.
The only part such a plant will play when it comes to a carbon neutral future is by exacerbating the already polluted air in this country when it starts spewing toxins from its plume into the atmosphere in and around Vaucluse. People who live in other parts of the island need not think that the toxic fumes of that plant at Vaucluse will not affect them or their scions. They may have to travel through an area where that pollution reaches in order to go to work, or the children need to pass on their way to school.
Another thing which shows that this Government speaks with a forked tongue when it comes to green energy, is the search for oil which they want to have carried out in the near future. Does anyone know of an oil rig where toxic fumes are not blown into the atmosphere?
Fossil fuels deplete the ozone layer, and are obviously not green energy components. We don’t need pretty words, we need real action!
You just hiked the fees at BCC taking away another venue through which the scions of the poor, the needy and the vulnerable could get a tertiary education. I wonder what sweetheart deal Hyatt-Wyndham received for taking over Sam Lord’s Castle?
They must be laughing all the way to the bank also!
It is really astounding how this Government, which came to power professing transparency, has turned out to be some of the most covert operators. You need to set up your own special ops.
By the way Mr. Minister of Finance, what is the name of the new tax where when we pay a bill, or purchase something the cashier grabs our cents – sometimes as many as four?
Is that what is called a withholding tax?
Was it discussed in Parliament as laid down in our constitution?
How much have you raked in through this new tax?
How many years more will we have to endure it?
Once again something is being done through subterfuge!
The social services are broken, because you cut the funds and the number of employees.
It’s the same with education.
As long as it is something which puts the poor, the needy and the vulnerable at a disadvantage, you don’t want to know about it.
As for your diversionary tactic of saying that those who say/write things which do not fit in your perspective, you had better wheel and come again!
As far as I understand, some of your own people don’t agree with your machinations either.
However, I don’t belong to B, C, D, or Z – and never will.
I vote according to how the incumbent government treats the poor, the needy and the vulnerable.
Thanks Vincent, will try to put up something later in the BU space.
Loading…
Hants
There are a lot of ” non- controversial” Canadian individuals and companies that could develop/finance a $30 million project in Barbados.
Moneybrain probably knows a few.
Loading…
Well Well & Consequences
Hants…..in all fairness to the honest investors from Canada and elsewhere who have the means to conduct business in Barbados, they would not meet the criteria, unless willing to play political games. People like Lee-Chin would stay far from Barbados and the politicians. ..Moneybrain has explained many times how distasteful it is dealing with the ministers for one reason or another.
They welcome crooks like the Del Mastros because it’s right up their alley, this time they may have met their match.
@Vincent Haynes.
The proposed WTE plant and the land you speak of is well “Beyond the Boundary” at Central Cricket (now Country) Club, my home away from home. So no fear there.
@Well Well,
While I share your sentiments on Harper and the Harper government; I campaigned vigorously against them in the recent election, it is wrong to give the impression that everyone, from overseas; who seeks to do business or does business in Barbados, is a crook or scam artist,will only serve to treat the purpose of driving away the good and the bad. Chemotherapy drugs kill off the good cells and the bad. Great effort is needed to restore the good.
Loading…
Well Well & Consequences2
Alvin……why are you unable to compartmentalize, you had a problem with Harper’s ultra conservative and exceedingly racist and some say shady government, but you have no problem with Deltro and the Del Mastros, one of whom made up part of Harper’s government and worked directly for him. You can’t have it both ways. Either the Harper government was comprised of crooks or saints, they can’t be both.
And besides, the Del Mastros were locked up under the Harper government, so there goes your theory that the governments in Canada does business with them. It’s only DBLP government would be both dumb and greedy enough to have that stench permeate the atmosphere on the island.
@Well Well,
Del Mastro was an MP, serving in the Harper government for the full term, until recently defeated. Harper must have known his bone fides. So he must have had the collusion of the Canadian Government during his term as an MP.
Your page really maked me think. My pleasure to being here on your write up. I had to take a break from building a coffee table to write your post. I have learned new things through your blog. Great tips and very easy to understand.
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.