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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