UPP Senator Richard Lewis

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UPP MP Richard Lewis is accusing Prime Minister Gaston Browne, of evading responsibility and avoiding transparency regarding the government’s rental of his son’s property on Friars Hill Road.

The public has raised legitimate questions about the matter, but the Prime Minister has refused to provide satisfactory answers, leaving a cloud of suspicion hanging over the government’s actions.

Lewis, has taken action by submitting four letters under the Freedom of Information Act. These letters formally request information and documentation from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Housing, Lands and Urban Renewal, the Ministry of Works, and the West Indies Oil Company.

The requested information includes details about the sale of the property, payments made for rent, expenses incurred for property repairs and upgrades, lease terms, and correspondence between relevant parties.

On April 2, 2024, the letters were delivered and copies were also sent to the Information Commissioner, whose job is to ensure compliance with the Act. The Act requires a timely response from public authorities within twenty working days of receiving a request.

Lewis expects a quick response from the government, given the Prime Minister’s previous statements about transparency. He also stresses that the public has a right to know how their tax dollars are being spent, especially during times of economic hardships

He plans to continue making freedom of information requests whenever necessary to maintain government accountability and transparency, in accordance with the principles of good governance.