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  • 6 days ago

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has responded to allegations made by Trinidad and Tobago Minister in the Ministry of Housing Anil Roberts, who claimed members of Gonsalves' family benefited from government-subsidized housing.

In an interview with a St Vincent talk show host, Dr. Gonsalves dismissed the accusations as false and defended his family's right to own property in Trinidad and Tobago.


Transcript
00:00In Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph Gonzalez has responded to allegations
00:04made by Trinidad and Tobago Minister in the Ministry of Housing, Anil Roberts,
00:09who claimed members of Gonzalez's family benefited from government-subsidized housing.
00:14In an interview with the St. Vincent talk show host, Dr. Gonzalez dismissed the accusations as false
00:20and he defended his family's right to own property in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:25Dr. Ralph Gonzalez, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines,
00:30spoke with radio host Bing Joseph on Tuesday night, addressing questions over reports
00:35that his wife and children obtained Housing Development Corporation properties in Trinidad and Tobago
00:42valued at more than $4 million in total.
00:46The radio host read the transcript of their conversation live on air on Wednesday morning.
00:51There were no illegal transactions done. None.
01:01As they are within their rights as Trinidadians to apply for and purchase housing.
01:11The Vincentian leader explained that his wife is a born Trinidadian and his children are Trinidadian by descent,
01:18adding that his daughter, a veterinarian, is married to a Trinidadian and is in a rent-to-own arrangement,
01:26not an outright purchase.
01:29My son, Storm, took a mortgage which he paid for a one-bedroom house.
01:40As a businessman, he rents it. In other words, he rents it out to people. He doesn't live in it.
01:48So it pays for itself.
01:52Dr. Gonzalez also detailed how his wife came to own her property,
01:56saying she took out a mortgage in St. Vincent after her mother's home in Dominica was destroyed by a hurricane.
02:02My wife has two brothers living in Trinidad.
02:08So after Hurricane Maria destroyed her mother's house in Dominica,
02:16she decided to move there.
02:19Eloise applied for a mortgage here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines,
02:25where she purchased a house for her mother so she can visit her son and grandchildren whenever she wants.
02:35According to the Prime Minister, his wife pays $5,000 monthly from business earnings in St. Vincent
02:42and he firmly rejected claims that the Victoria Keys properties are government-subsidized.
02:48I have never involved myself with anyone at the HDC,
02:54any officials or any government to try and influence anyone or anything.
03:04In fact, I have never been inside any of those houses, though I know of them.
03:12The St. Vincent Prime Minister maintains his family has followed all legal procedures
03:18and that the allegations are politically motivated.
03:21He also said his attorneys are looking into the matter and will advise if legal action will be taken.
03:27Urvashi Tamari, Ruknurain, TV6 News.
03:30Prime Minister Kamala Passat-Bissess is responding to counter-arguments being made by St. Vincent
03:35and the Grenadines' Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves,
03:38saying she has no interest in any form of retribution against him.
03:42Responding to a query posed by TV6 journalist Urvashi Tamari Ruknurain,
03:48Mrs. Passat-Bissess had distanced herself from the ongoing political developments in St. Vincent.
03:53She says the opinions of Gonsalves have never influenced her decision-making anyway.
03:58She emphasized that she has no involvement or interest in the upcoming elections in St. Vincent,
04:05noting that the choice of leadership rests solely with the people of that country.
04:09She added that Mr. Gonsalves is free to pursue any legal action he wishes regarding the acquisition of HDC homes
04:16by three members of his immediate family.
04:20The Prime Minister says that an official investigation is already underway into the matter at hand.
04:25She highlighted particular concern over a rent-to-own arrangement for one of the luxury apartments at Victoria Keys,
04:32signed on April 30, 2025, just two days after the general election and before the new government was sworn in.
04:41Ms. Passat-Bissess described the transaction as egregious,
04:45pointing out that while thousands of citizens continue to wait for HDC housing,
04:49one family was reportedly able to acquire three luxury apartments through the scheme.
04:54She called the concern being raised by Minister in the Housing, Ministry, Anil Roberts, as legitimate.
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