This piece of property, owned by the Crown has a bit of controversy attached to it, so The VOICE has learned, further that more than one proposal has been forwarded to the respective authority by individuals interested in purchasing the said piece of property.
The Cabinet of Ministers on 29th July, 2013 considered a Memorandum dated 26th November, 2012 submitted by the Ministry of Physical Development, Housing and Urban Renewal and approved the sale of that piece of waterfront property, block and parcel No. 0031C 460, comprising approximately 6000 sq. ft. to GMC Holdings Inc. for the purpose of implementing a Tourist Development.
This is Cabinet Conclusion 418: Sale of a portion Block and Parcel No. 0031C 460 to GMC Holdings for the purpose of implementing a touristic development.
No. 418 went on to state that this approval is subject to the purchaser bearing the cost of relocating squatters, and that the Crown should undertake the completion of the surveying and valuation exercises to determine the sale price.
Efforts to get Minister Harold Dalson to comment on the relocation of squatters, he being the parliamentary representative for Soufriere, were pointless.
On Thursday his office on the Castries Waterfront said he was not on the island. Friday morning his office said he was in office. The reporter identified himself and his organization when the spokesperson picked up his call. The reporter was first told to hold on, an indication that he was being put through to the minister. The spokesperson returned and told the reporter to call back in five to ten minutes. The reporter called back twelve minutes after and was told:
… you just missed him. He had an appointment with the Cuban doctors….”
Another reason for seeking out Dalson was this: Saint Lucians would remember the rhetoric of the Labour Party during the last general elections regarding the sale of government lands, the Black Bay lands being the one coming readily to mind.
That piece of property on the Soufriere Waterfront is prime property yet it appears that this Labour administration has agreed to sell prime Crown lands.
This reporter has learned that at a community meeting earlier this year in Soufriere, residents of the town in attendance at that meeting made it clear to their parliamentary representative and others who were there, that they were not in favour of the development or the sale of the land.
Some residents are saying that a parliamentary representative and by extension the government elected by the people to represent the views of the people should not ignore the recommendations and requests of the people of Soufriere.
This was a second reason why efforts were made to speak to Minister Dalson regarding Cabinet Conclusion 418 of 2013.
It must be noted that Crown lands, including the Queen’s Chain belong to the people of Saint Lucia and that the government is the custodian, therefore prior to the sale of such lands proper public consultation with the people should be held and their views must be taken into consideration in decisions taken by the Cabinet of Ministers.
It must further be noted that the administration of the United Workers Party and that of the Labour Party seem to be following the same modus operandi when it comes to government lands or Crown lands.
With Minister Dalson’s unavailability confirmed, the reporter’s attention turned to the Soufriere/Fond St. Jacques Constituency Office, what was previously known as the Soufriere Town Council.
The office was called and the town clerk answered. Alas, the reporter received no luck there. In an extremely respectful tone she made it clear that queries on that particular matter should be directed at the Mayor of the Town of Soufriere, Mr. Darnel Bobb.
That point was accepted by the reporter who, armed with Mr. Bob’s cellphone number, tried several times to get Mr.Bobb who, it was said, is usually in office, meaning the constituency office, on Wednesdays.
Information about GMC Holdings Inc. is it appears in the Registry of companies:
The company was incorporated on 16th January, 2002 with registered offices on Bridge Street, Soufriere. The amount of stated capital it has or it has registered is $300. It classed its shares as common. The number of shares it has classed as common shares are 5000.
Persons holding shares in the company are Michael Gustave with 100 common shares, Carlyle Gustave with common shares and St. Claire Gustave also with 100 common shares.
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