LEADER of the Opposition Philip J Pierre has put the Government on notice that if it does not bring the ‘Design and Finance contracts’ to Parliament, the SLP will take legal action.
At the latest SLP press conference, Pierre stated that such contracts are in fact loans and thus must be brought to Parliament for approval.
“These design/finance contracts are loans and the government refuses to bring them to the Parliament for ratification,” Pierre stated.
He warned the Government that if it does not bring the contracts to Parliament soon, the Opposition will take action.
“I want to put the government on notice, that if they do not at the soonest possible opportunity bring these contracts to the Parliament, we’re going to be taking legal action.” Pierre added.
He called the contracts illegal and “an abuse of power” by the Government.
Pierre also accused the Government of using design/finance contracts to build roads, without first bringing them to Parliament.
However, this is not the first time the Opposition has levelled this accusation at the Government.
Back in August 2017, the Castries East MP made the same complaint with regards to “the direct award contract to Fresh Start Construction Company Ltd for $15.9 million, to rehabilitate the six kilometres of road in the constituency of Micoud South.”
Back then too, the Opposition Leader said that “the facility made to the Government of St. Lucia by the aforementioned company is a loan” and that “as such, the approval of the Parliament of St. Lucia is required for this loan pursuant to Section 39 and 41 of the Finance (Administration) Act 15. 01.”
He also accused the Government of “departing from the practice of the former Saint Lucia Labour Party government to bring Design/Finance/Build facilities to Parliament for approval, since all such facilities are treated as ‘loans’”.