Table 1: Summary of Transactions, GoG to Blue Lagoon Corporation
November 6, 2011
The case of the people’s property, Islander Hill, Ballast Ground and the Lagoon
The case of the people’s property, Islander Hill, Ballast Ground and the Lagoon
Citizens in Defence of Grenada’s Lands and Heritage has recently become aware of a Government of Grenada – Camper and Nicholson Grenada Limited Lease Agreement in respect of the Lagoon. This document provides the shocking details on the transfer of the people’s property to Camper and Nicholson by former Governor-General, Sir Daniel Williams, on behalf of the Government of Grenada.
Given this “occupation” by Camper and Nicholsons, Citizens in Defence of Grenada’s Lands and Heritage continues to “keep an eye on the company” and we are pleased to share the following information gleaned from the Company’s Annual Report 2010.
The unprecedented action of extinguishing a public right of way, taken by the “power(s) that be” earlier this year, in order to remove regulatory hurdles in the way of Morne Rouge Enterprises Limited and Event Enterprises Limited (developer of Mariposa Residences) to construct a maximum of ten (10) cottages on a lot of land in the Quarantine Point has evoked consternation, disgust, disbelief, anger and cynicism among many concerned citizens.
On what basis has the administration of the National Democratic Congress taken away the people’s right of way and the access that to the breath taking vista that this access affords? Who prepared the brief for Cabinet?
According to the release, among the scheduled meetings of the delegation were appointments with KBC Bank, the Centre for the Development of Enterprise (CDE) and ING Bank. The press release further advised:- “Presentations were made by the developers about their projects in Grenada and they took the opportunity to make particular mention of the very stable, investor-friendly business environment. In addition to making presentation the investors met with a number of potential investment partners.” (Our emphasis)
It is our opinion that a thorough knowledge of the companies and the performance of the companies with which mega-investor, Mr. Paul Taylor, has been associated is essential to any decisions that the Government of Grenada would make/take.
We trust that the interests of the people of Grenada will ALWAYS come first and that our government will ensure that the interests of the people of Grenada will be protected.
It appears that the apparently “loaded”, successful, savvy and well connected “high flyers” of the Levera Resort Development Ltd. – the millionaire investors of whom Hon. Anthony Boatswain boasted in his 2007 Budget Speech – have played a part in precipitating the very “financial melt down” which is being blamed for the inability of their company to source finance. They are gamblers and high flyers with other people’s money. Companies with which they have been associated have been debt-ridden and contributed to the demise of the banks which made loans to those companies – mezzanine loans supporting toxic debts.
So, in the name of progress and development (“let the progress continue”?) the “powers that be” permitted Camper and Nicholsons to occupy part of the Lagoon Park and to fill in an area adjacent to that part of the park without the requisite Environmental Impact Assessment and, as far as could have been observed without compliance to the required mitigating measures, silt traps and rock abutments. It also seemed that people’s issues were no longer of any consequence.