St. George’s, February 20, 2012 – Members of a Snell Hall family have publicly refuted a statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister that an agreement had been reached on the acquisition of lands on which government proposes to construct a resource centre and playing field.“A mutual agreement for the exchange of lands between the government and the owner of the Snell Hall lands has been brokered, awaiting a valuation from the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Community Development,’’ the statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.
A day later, however, landowner Noreen de Gale was on local television disputing the claims that an agreement had been reached with government on the land issue.
Her denial was corroborated by another relative, Tom de Gale, in a written statement.
“I can confirm that the information in the Prime Minister’s Office press release, dated February 14th in relation to the Snell Hall property belonging to the de Gales, is false,’’ Mr. de Gale said. “No such agreement or discussion between the Government and the owner has been made.’’
The now disputed government statement is reminiscent of one issued last December 22 under the headline, “Prime Minister intervention brings industrial action to an end.’’
The December statement said: “The intervention of Prime Minister Tillman Thomas has led to a breakthrough in the impasse between the Grenada Technical and Allied Workers Union and the management of the Grenada Breweries Limited (GBL).’’
The Prime Minister, it added, “expressed his appreciation to the Grenada’s Trades Union Council (TUC), the GTAWU and the Management of the Breweries for bringing the industrial action to an end.’’
However, the impasse between GBL and the Grenada Technical and Allied Workers’ Union is still ongoing and workers are yet to be allowed back on the job.
The Snell Hall playing field and resource centre project is one of several that Hon. Joseph Gilbert has been championing as NDC MP for St. Patrick West.
The former Environment Minister fully supports the community’s efforts at obtaining the playing field and resource centre, but is concerned at the delay in starting the project that is being funded by the Government and people of Venezuela.
“The Grenada Government could acquire freehold possession of the property within just two weeks, which is the time required to do the two final publications of notices in the Government Gazette, in accordance with section 3 of the Acquisition Act,’’ Gilbert noted.
The first notices outlining government's interest in a portion of Mrs. de Gale's estate for constructing a playing field and resource center were published in the Government Gazette several months ago.
Sources close to the Prime Minister's Office have said that the acquisition process has been put on hold following instructions given directly by the Prime Minister on the matter.
Last week statement from the PMO on the supposed land deal said that “under the agreement, a parcel of land similar in value to the portion to be utilized for the Snell Hall project will be provided to Mrs. Noreen de Gale, ensuring that government expenditure is minimized.’’
The statement came shortly after a special community meeting on February 12 of Snell Hall residents, who expressed strong frustration over the apparent inaction of government in acquiring the three acres of land identified for constructing the playing field and resource centre.
MP Gilbert, commenting on the statement issued by the PMO, said he was “deeply troubled about the growing trend of misinformation coming out of the Prime Minister's Office in recent times.’’
Gilbert was cautious in his response to reports that the continued delay in acquiring the land for the Snell Hall project was part of what some describe as a sinister plan to derail the project, and deny him the credit of having delivered on a campaign promise to the people of the area.
“Whatever is done in the dark will one day be brought to the light,’’ he quipped. “God is great; let's see who would get fired, now!’’
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