UPP MP Condemns PM’s Alleged Inaction Before Demolition of Local Beach Bar
Richard Lewis, the MP for St John’s Rural West, has accused Prime Minister Gaston Browne of failing to act in Mr. Peter Kelsick’s best interest before his beach bar, which had been in continuous operation for decades, was demolished at Halcyon Cove.
Lewis stated that the bar had made a valuable contribution to the coutry’s tourism product and that common sense would have dictated that the Prime Minister should have withheld the authorization for the demolition of Mr. Kelsick’s property until all reasonable efforts at negotiation, finding alternative approaches, or securing fair compensation were exhausted.
Lewis said in a press statement that this is just one instance in which the Prime Minister has shown his complete lack of concern for the local entrepreneurs at a time when unemployment and crime rates are steadily rising.
Now that the demolition has taken place, Lewis believes that Prime Minister Browne should engage Mr. Kelsick and the property developer immediately and work towards a fair compensation payment for the property that was destroyed.
The saga began when the DCA informed Kelsick that he needed to relocate his business since it was obstructing the view of some parts of the newly constructed Royalton Chic resort.
However, Kelsick contested this claim and argued that his modest establishment did not impede any views from the hotel.
Negotiations took place with the management of the new resort for compensation, but those talks stalled as Kelsick felt that he was being coerced into moving without any genuine open discussions.
This story was first published by Antigua News on April 24, 2024: antigua.news/2024/04/24/upp-mp-condemns-pms-alleged-inaction-before-demolition-of-local-beach-bar. © 2024 Antigua News. Republication without permission is not allowed.
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