UPP Senator Richard Lewis

The United Progressive Party’s Parliamentary Representative for St John’s Rural West, Richard Lewis, has called on Prime Minister Gaston Browne to rescind the rental agreement for the property owned by his son, Gaston Andron Browne III.

The property houses three government offices under the Ministry of National Housing, the DCA, and the Land Office. Lewis has raised concerns regarding the arrangement, stating that it reeks of nepotism.

Lewis has cited several grounds for his opposition to the rental agreement. Firstly, he questions the sale of the property to the PM’s son by WIOC, where the Prime Minister’s wife sits on the board.

He said the sale was not publicly advertised, raising questions about using inside information to gain an unfair advantage over the general public.

Secondly, Lewis has highlighted the lack of documentation proving that the repairs and improvements made to the property represent value for money.

Thirdly, Lewis has raised concerns about the Prime Minister’s failure to provide figures and documentation on the quantum of monthly rent paid after the expiration of the initial $1 per month term of the Lease Agreement, which ended on March 1, 2023. Clause 5.3 of the agreement provides for the renegotiation of rent every year after the initial 18 month period which ended on March 1, 2023.

Fourthly, the Prime Minister’s initial misleading statement claiming the property was owned by an “investment group” has breached the public’s trust. The recent revelation that Gaston Andron Browne III is the sole shareholder and owner of the property is contrary to what the Prime Minister said in Parliament.

Lewis has called on the Prime Minister to terminate the rental agreement and provide full disclosure of all expenditures on his son’s property to date, accompanied by full documentation.

He has requested the publication of all expenditures on repairs and improvements to the property with the required documentary evidence, and the figures for all rent paid to date, with the required documentary evidence, from the start of the initial term of the Lease Agreement, September 1, 2021, to the present day.

Lewis has stated that if the Prime Minister does not fulfill this reasonable request, he will write under the Freedom of Information Act to force his release of all relevant figures and documentation surrounding this matter, in the interest of transparency and accountability. The public expects the Prime Minister to act with haste and provide credible, evidence-backed answers to their many concerns.