CATEGORY:LETTER ------------------ INSIDE GRENADA TUESDAY May 29,2007 by Sandra C. Ferguson May 28th, 2007 Hon. Brenda Hood Minister of Communications and Works Ministry of Communications and Works Ministerial Complex Tanteen St. George’s Hon. Minister, Re Port Louis Matters - a Reminder Greetings Hon. Minister! Like a number of other people, I am quite surprised to hear of your recent transfer to the Ministry of Communications and Works. If this is a promotion, congratulations! It may please you to know that my mother endorses you as the Minister of Tourism. According to her, “You cut the figure!” However, if as Minister of Communications and Works, you put an end to the SHODDY WORK AND DESTRUCTION, in the name of road works delivered by the CCC/CCI contractors and the consultants Dessau-Soprin., I welcome that!! Look at how they have licked up the roundabout by Governor-General’s House and Tanteen. Not satisfied, they feel that they must also “lick” up the last bit of the Botanical Gardens. You, of all persons, would understand that the area in the vicinity of the GG’s residence was part of the tourism product. Vendors use to hang around there to catch the tourists who stopped at that “look-out” point. Now that area has become more like a MENANCE to life and limb. Madam Minister, my plea to you as you transfer to your new portfolio, please get CCC/CCI out of Grenada. I understand that they are from North Africa/Middle East(?). No wonder, THEY SEEM TO HAVE AN AVERSION TO TREES AND VEGETATION. Everywhere they touch is becoming a BARREN spot. We do not want a DESERT here. Please remind them that the reason green is your party’s colour is that it symbolizes FERTILITY. Green in our flag symbolizes the lush green vegetation of our country and we want to keep it that way. Now to the purpose of this letter. I write, Madam, as a follow-up to my letter of February 26th which requested clarification and information on certain matters pertaining to the Port Louis development. SINCE I DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE FROM YOU, I take the opportunity to write to you again on the matter. I seek your clarification on the following questions, most of which were asked in my letter of February 26th: • What are the terms and conditions under which this property, belonging to we the people, has been turned over to the control and use of Mr. de Savary? • If the property has been sold, HOW MUCH has it been sold for? What are the terms of payment? How much has the Treasury already received? • Can you please also advise who were the NEGOTIATING TEAM on behalf of the Government and HOW MUCH were the members of the team paid for their services? • What INCENTIVES is the (real estate) developer (?) Mr. de Savary benefiting from? Did he comply with ALIEN LAND HOLDING LICENCE? For how many years has he been granted TAX CONCESSIONS? Is it true that the persons who will be buying property from Mr. de Savary’s will also enjoy the SAME concessions as Mr. de Savary? • Based on plans in the Grenada Life brochure, I have noted that most of what is now the Lagoon Park, PUBLIC GREEN SPACES, is to be developed as town houses, and commercial complexes while we the people will be afforded “windows to the sea”. Are you telling we, the people of Grenada that we must give up OUR property to make way for a few rich people who want to frolic in Grenada sometimes and tie up their boats almost in their living rooms?! • I have heard the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister talking about a 5-star hotel where the old Islander Hotel was located. Based on the plans that I have noted in the Grenada Life,, the site of the old Islander is the PRIVATE Port Louis Club for CLUB MEMBERS.. This area will be FULLY GATED. According to the Grenada Life, the Club House will offer eleven, sumptuous, turnkey members’ penthouses available for purchase. A small number of EXCLUSIVE and dramatic home-sites are available within the Club’s GATED COMMUNITY. Hon. Minister, has the Prime Minister got the facts right? Indeed Hon. Minister, WHAT ARE THE FACTS? Based on information in the Grenada Life brochure, a 5-star hotel is planned for Pandy beach, in the area between the Pandy beach access road and Ross Point. There is SOMETHING WRONG with that plan Madam Minister. That area is all occupied by a number of LEGITIMATE property owners. As the apparent government spokesperson on this project, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY THE DEVELOPER (?) IS POSTING PLANS FOR PROPERTY THAT HE DOES NOT OWN? Can you explain why his operatives are going around pressuring people to sell their land? PUT YOURSELF IN THE PLACE OF THE PERSONS AFFECTED HON. MINISTER. What would it be like for you if some millionaire/billionaire wanted to FORCE you out of YOUR home - a place you had been legitimately occupying for years, where one ought to feel safe and secure.? • Hon. Minister, again I enquire about the WATER RIGHTS of the Lagoon area. What arrangements have been taken to protect the access and rights of TRADITIONAL USERS of the lagoon area? Will they now have to PAY for berths in the proposed marina? • Has the developer, Mr. de Savary, presented his plans for the development of the area for review and assessment by the Physical Planning Unit? • Has an INDEPENDENT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT been undertaken? What are the findings of this Environmental Impact Assessment? What MITIGATING ACTIONS will have to be undertaken? Notwithstanding the fact that this project is already underway, may I suggest Hon. Minister that a PUBLIC CONSULTATION on the Environmental Impact Assessment is still in order. Hon. Minister, it is my hope that you can give some attention and response to these questions even as you begin your tenure in a new Ministry. Hon. Minister, as these REAL ESTATE SPECULATORS seek to relocate access roads to privatize beaches and pressure Grenadians to sell their hard earned property, I think that you and your colleagues should take note that the Mayor of Athens, Greece has gone on HUNGER STRIKE to protest the practice of seafront businesses who are charging people who want to access the beaches an exorbitant 10 Euros. That is DEVELOPED Europe. We are in Grenada, BEING DEVELOPED we are told. I borrow the words of ardent party supporter, Preacher’s Wife – “Those who have eyes to see, let them see and those who have ears to hear, let them hear”. Permit me to extend my best wishes as you embrace the new portfolio of Communications and Works. Sincerely yours, Sandra C.A. Ferguson c/o P.O. Box 750 St. George’s