KELLMAN: LAND PRICE A GIVE-AWAY
Nation News (Barbados) 22/7/99
Local Restaurant owners may soon not be able to survive because Government has its priorities in the wrong place, according to parliamentary representative for St. Lucy, Denis Kellman.
Kellman who is a member of the Opposition, was also concerned about a Government resolution to approve the sale of land along Fontabelle, St. Michael, to owners of Chefette, Mill Reef Company Ltd, at $20 per square foot.
Kellman objected to the sale of the parcel of land stating that Chefette was getting everything they wanted at the expense of the poor people. “There are also small farmers who grow vegetables and chickens but are being destroyed because of the import licence granted which allow products to be imported from Trinidad,” Kellman said.
He contended that something was definitely fishy in the sale of the land at that price. “Imagine land at Forte George Heights going at $15 a square foot. The Royal Bank of Canada had to pay $12 a square foot for land at the bottom of University Hill and outside the Bridgetown Port we are giving away land at $20.
“That is a low price to be giving land to anybody. Land on Bay Street is selling at $50 a square foot, and in Bridgetown, right outside the port, Government is giving away land at $20. Something here is fishy.”
Kellman warned that the political patronage has to stop and Government must stop building up the big businesses and help the poor man. “We are behaving like crabs, causing our own to crumble while others succeed,” he said.
Kellman added that because of the low price Government was offering for land, the resolution should not be seen as one for the sale of land but rather as a resolution to deprive the people of revenue since the Government is set to lose $250 000. “We must treasure our jewels and every time Government gives away a piece of land, that is more taxes the poor people have to pay.
“With moves like these it makes no sense moving Lord Nelson when we bring in all types of foreign people. I am all for Caribbean unity, but not Caribbean unity at any price.”
Minister of Housing, Glen Clarke however stated that the land was rejected by the Town and Country Planning for building purposes and will be used for drainage and landscaping. Clarke also said Chefette had been leasing the land since 1981 and applied to buy it in 1994. The resolution was passed.