Baptiste wants answers on Hewanorra redevelopment
During an SLP press conference earlier today, 1st Deputy Political Leader, Alva Baptiste made the following statement regarding the Hewanorra airport redevelopment matter:
“I start by making reference to a government press release issued and voiced by Ms Nancy Charles, on Tuesday 24 April, where she stated categorically and I quote:
“The Government of Saint Lucia has NOT Signed any Agreement with Mr. Sean Matthew for the Redevelopment of Hewanorra International Airport! This is just another case of FAKE NEWS, LIES and Deceit of the St. Lucia Labour Party hoping to frustrate and delay the progress of the country”
The Press Release then went on to accuse the SLP of trying to tarnish Mr. Matthew’s reputation and followed with several paragraphs detailing Mr. Matthew’s biography. The question which immediately arose was why a government press release would fabricate such a lie about the Labour Party and then go to such lengths to promote the qualifications of an individual, if they were not contemplating an engagement with him. Or was that a case of “pwen duvant” (take in front)? In other words, take a pre-emptive strike on the opposition to disguise an actual action which was being contemplated?
The Labour Party immediately released a response to this blatant lie and challenged the Government and Nancy Charles to provide proof of any statement made by the Labour Party in respect of a contract to Sean Matthew.
The Labour Party reiterates, here, that as of April 24, 2018 it had made no statement in respect of an alleged contract issued to Sean Matthew or any entity associated with him.
We were aware, as would most St. Lucians, that reference was made by a local Talk-show host, on his program days earlier, to a recently registered company by the name of Executive Consulting and Management Services Ltd. (ECMS) of which Mr. Matthew was a director and that the company was allegedly the recipient of a contract to provide consultancy services in respect of the Hewanorra International Airport Redevelopment Project.
Since those statements were made, a number of documents have emerged in the public domain pointing to negotiations of a contract between the previously named ECMS and the Saint Lucia Air and Seaports Authority (SLASPA) in respect of the Hewanorra Airport Redevelopment Project. Further, the documents suggest that the contract sum, under consideration is in the region of US$1.35 million to US$1.53 million or EC$3.66 million to EC$4.15 million in addition to expenses.
The Saint Lucia Labour Party has on several occasions stated its concerns about the current government’s departure from a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement for the airport redevelopment, which would insulate the country from the huge debt estimated in the region of US$150 million ($407 million), and at the same time avoid the negative impact that a loan of that magnitude would have on the country’s debt to GDP ratio. It is also important to restate here that the process was being managed by the IFC, a reputable World Bank agency. This was always intended to ensure that such a huge undertaking by the country would be conducted under the strictest transparent processes.
In his contribution to the recently completed budget debate, Leader of the Opposition, Hon Philip J. Pierre, revealed that the current government was also offered assistance with the financing and management of the Airport project, by the government of Canada. The offer from the Canadian Government required no government guarantee and also included construction of the North – South link road. This was also refused.
The question is why? If there is a good explanation the government has the responsibility to share it with the citizens of the country.
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Image: Wikimedia Commons