Just when one thinks things cannot get any worst in Grenada, we defy imagination and go beyond the boundary. The most recent BAD NEWS to hit the country concerns the sale of Grand Beach Resort hotel to Grenada’s famous grandson from Grand Roy, St. John’s, Wonder Boy, Lewis Hamilton. Rumours have abounded for some time before elections but Lloyd Noel’s commentary on Caribbean Net news this week has given some details of this SORDID deal. The article got Opposition Leader, Dr. Keith Mitchell, ranting and raving in Parliament this week while, former Ambassador, Dr. Patrick Antoine, is threatening legal action. From Mr. Noel’s article and Dr. Mitchell’s rants in Parliament this week, I have understood the following: • The Grand Beach property was owned by Issa Nicholas of Trinidad on a lease hold arrangement with the Government of Grenada. • Lewis Hamilton, through a company incorporated in Grenada, "Time Bourke Holdings (Grenada) Limited", purchased the hotel buildings from Issa Nicholas. Though this figure is not mentioned in Mr. Noel’s article, I understood Dr. Mithcell to advise that it was US$35 million. I would like to know how much PROPERY TAX and STAMP DUTY was paid into the Treasury. • The approximately 20 acres of land on which the buildings stood was occupied LEASEHOLD by Issa Nicholas. The land was valued at US$15 million and transferred to Mr. Hamilton/his company in exchange for the USE OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND RECORDINGS OF LEWIS HAMILTON and Lewis Hamilton's name, photography and approved biography for and in connection with the promotion of the State of Grenada for a period four years - subject always to the existing contractual obligations or restrictions which the Government has agreed to accept. • The Governor-General, Sir Daniel Williams, signed the deed conveying the land on July 7th, ONE DAY before July 8th elections!!?? I do not speak for the rest of we the people. I speak on my own behalf. I am ANGRY, OUTRAGED, INCENSED!! Like a number of we the people, I am a BIG FAN of Lewis Hamilton, particularly since his roots are in Grand Roy. However, with all due respect to Wonder Boy, I do not care how famous or how rich he is, or that his roots are in Grand Roy. No politician or Governor-General should engage in any CONSPIRACY to GIVE-AWAY the PEOPLE’S PROPERTY to a MILLIONAIRE. GRENADA IS ALL WE HAVE!! Mr. Hamilton has not even served Grenada!! What have we given to OUR home-grown world champion, Alleyne Francique, who has proudly flown Grenada’s flag on the world stage over the last 13 years. We have not even erected a BILLBOARD anywhere to honour Francique’s achievements but we up and give –away 20 acres of the people’s property to a MILLIONAIRE in exchange to use his name, recordings and photography. What the hell does that mean? And this use is SUBJECT to his EXISTING CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS. Do the people who sold us out know who/what OWNS Lewis Hamilton? Are we aware of the details and restrictions of the existing contracts? For those of us who confuse caca poule and egg white, we should take note of what is happening in cricket and the legal actions being taken against the West Indies Cricket Board by DIGICEL (the official sponsors of West Indies Cricket) in relation to the Stanford 20/20 cricket. Grenada has settled for a PROMISE. Who has benefitted from this DEAL? • Lewis Hamilton of course. • Issa Nicholas has come away handsomely • The law firm of Danny Williams and Co. which will get paid a percentage of the value of the transaction • The other agents and facilitators of this deal who will also get their percentages. Mr. Noel’s article has identified Dr. Patrick Antoine, former Economic Advisor to the Government of Grenada, as receiving a whopping US$1.5 million in fees for brokering this deal with Lewis Hamilton. According to various newscasts, Dr. Antoine has retained lawyers to take Mr. Noel to court for this statement. My only comment is that IF Dr. Antoine is at all involved, his track record on behalf of Grenada does not inspire. I recall that he was the consultant who, on behalf of Grenada, re-negotiated, with the World Trade Organisation, the bound tariff rates for chicken and beer (around 2002, I think). This was to have facilitated the production of these two items in Grenada via the infamous Chicken Project in St. Mark’s and the introduction of Carlsberg Beer by the Grenada Breweries. It costs the Grenada government $0.25 million (I am unsure as to whether this was EC$ or US$). It is interesting to note that, at that time, Dr. Antoine was also consultant to Ansa Macall, who were already owners of Grenada Breweries Ltd. What did Grenada gain from this costly venture: (i) Millions of dollars were spent in respect of the chicken farm. Not even a fowl feather can be shown for all that money!! (ii) Carlsberg beer was introduced. I do not know when CARLSBERG DISAPPEARED from the market. This only registered with me when, recently, I began seeing the advertisements for Stag beer – DISRIBUTED by Grenada Breweries. Note well - not made !! Not bottled!! I also noted that a number of the drinks formerly produced in Grenada, Pepsi, 7-Up, are now DISTRIBUTED in PLASTIC bottles while Grenada bears the environmental and other COSTS of all of these plastics. I sincerely hope that no fiscal incentives have been given to the Grenada Breweries re waiver of the Environmental Levy!! (And these are all developments why we should look very carefully at the DETAILS of this proposed economic union with Trinidad and Tobago.) But back to the sale of Grand Beach Hotel! • What are Mr. Hamilton’s plans for the property? Have we seen proposals in “black and white”? • The government has transferred freehold title for the land to Mr. Hamilton’s company which means that his company owns the buildings and the land and CAN SELL THE BUILDINGS AND THE LANDS AT ANYTIME AS IT SEES FIT. Mr. Hamilton has not paid a damn cent for the land. How are Grenada’s interests protected in this deal? Is it enough that, for the moment he is a celebrity, looking to make an investment? Haven’t our experiences with the Mt. Hartman or Levera Projects aught us any LESSONS about giving away our property? Perhaps, even the experience of Ms. Grenada-Ms. World’s brief flirtation with Wonder Boy could be instructive as to the person with whom we “playing”. There are the folks who are going to be falling over themselves at the name of Lewis Hamilton. However, this deal as is, STINKS and we the people will be looking very closely at new Minister of Tourism and the Minister of Lands to see how this matter in going to be REDRESSED to protect the interests of the Grenadian people. GRENADA DESERVES BETTER! WE STANDING UP FOR GRENADA!! By Sandra C Ferguson (The views expressed in the above article are those of the writer and not necessarily that of the Inside Grenada Staff)