Isaac says Browne’s claim that Party wants to dictate the spending of Alfa Nero sale funds is another of his fictions
The United Progressive (UPP) says it has made no recommendations
or suggestions to Prime Minister Gaston Browne or his
administration on how funds derived from the sale of the Alfa Nero
should be spent.
Further, it is categorically denying Browne’s assertion, on his
affiliated radio station, that the Party – after refusing to support the
sale – is attempting to dictate how the sale proceeds are spent.
Earlier, Party Chairman D.Gisele Isaac reported that she had been
approached by a Government official, who encouraged the UPP to
compile a list of constituency projects it would like to see funded,
and which its MP’s could present in Parliament.
Isaac says she reminded the Port Authority official that the UPP had
already presented its position in both Houses of Parliament and has
seen no reason to change it – especially given the raft of legal
challenges the Government will face.
The Port Authority Act was amended to allow the Browne
Administration to seize the yacht after declaring it “abandoned,” and
then to acquire and sell the luxury vessel.
During the debate in the Lower House, MP Sherfield Bowen argued
against the Administration’s intention to deposit the proceeds of the
sale into the Consolidated Fund.
He noted the probability that financial institutions could have an
interest in the vessel, and he put forward the moral argument that
the profits should be repatriated to The Ukraine, as the victim of
Russian aggression.
In the Upper House, meanwhile, Senator Shawn Nicholas advised
the Government to hold the money in an escrow account – rather
than spend it – until all legal challenges had been settled.
Given these statements – made and reiterated publicly – Isaac says
that Browne’s claim is “just another of the prime minister’s fictions.”
Meanwhile, sources have confirmed that the recent Court of Appeal
decision on the ownership of the yacht – which allowed the sale to
go forward – will come up for hearing at the Privy Council next
week.
Reports say the alleged beneficial owner of the multimillion-dollar
vessel is asserting that she is not interested in compensation; rather,
she wants possession of the yacht.
Payment to the Government by the new owner – New York resident
Eric Schmidt – is due by Friday, June 30 – seven days after the sale.
Observers tell REAL News they are waiting to see whether Schmidt
will “go through” with the transaction, given that several lawsuits
against the Browne Administration are now in train.
On Tuesday, certain Cabinet Members, along with Port officials,
reportedly held an emergency meeting with their legal counsel on
the Privy Council matter.
“The UPP is part of the audience; we are keeping far from this,”
Chairman Isaac declares.
