(Real News Antigua) UPP still wants answers from Browne Administration about
Jolly Beach deal with Elite Islands and new ‘Sir,’ Rob Barrett
The United Progressive Party (UPP) still wants answers about the
deal into which the Gaston Browne Administration entered with
businessman Sir Robert “Rob” Barrett.
One of Barrett’s companies, Elite Island Resorts, took over the
renovations and operations of the then-defunct Jolly Beach Resort in
2022.
Shortly before that, a purported agreement between the two entities
went into circulation, detailing the concessions the company would
receive. These included a 15-year reduction of 50% on corporate
income tax, applicable to all the businesses in which its principals
had an ownership interest.
At the time, George Wehner, the UPP mobilization officer, said
that some of the provisions contained in the agreement were very
troubling.
After that agreement was discredited by members of the
Administration, Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle made a request, in
the Lower House, for details of the actual contract between
the company and the Government.
In response, Prime Minister Gaston Browne said he was not aware
that the Government had any obligation to share the agreement
between the Executive and the principals of the hotel chain in
Parliament, and he refused to do so.
The Administration has since remained tight-lipped about the deal.
However, UPP Chairman D.Gisele Isaac says she is still not convinced
that Barrett was not the recipient of many of the concessions set out
in the original document.
Meanwhile, commenting on Wednesday’s knighting of Barrett, Isaac
says she does not agree with him receiving the national honour on
the claim that he has done so much for Antigua and Barbuda.
She notes that the new knight has received many government
concessions during the course of his career, and thus has been able
to do very well.
Therefore, he should not be measured against other businesses that
have not received the same level of benefits, she said, although they,
too, have made significant contributions.
