The process leading up to discussions leading up to the Government’s eventual purchase, or acquisition of Balliceauxi us taking too long Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves has revealed.
The prime minister previously announced that the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines was moving to purchase or acquire the 320-acre island located East off Bequia and is of historical significance to the indigenous Garifuna communities residing here and abroad.
According to Gonsalves, he had written to the Chief Surveyor for the valuation to be completed on time and so that he (Gonsalves) could begin having conversations with the lawyers for the owners and while the valuation was being done, for the government to propose an offer.
“And if we cannot come to a voluntary agreement, there is the power entrusted in the government to acquire the land,” Gonsalves said.
But the discussions and the requisites in relation to those discussions were taking a bit longer than he had wished.
So too, Gonsalves said that the chief surveyor and the other government valuers did not get down to Balliceaux as quickly as they had anticipated.
Instructions have also been given to the Attorney General to double check the title, Gonsalves said.
“This has been done before, but if you are doing a transaction, you check the title upon entering the transaction because anything could have happened since the last time you checked,” he explained.
According to Gonsalves, the commitment to have Balliceaux as a memorial for the indigenous Garifuna who died there is there.
“Government and I are determined to have this put right,” he said.
Even if it meant him having to wait a little longer for the public servants to do their job in accordance with the law.
“But we have to get on with it fairly quickly,” he said.