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| Lindsay Grant |
Fellow Citizens, as leader of the People's Action Movement I take the responsibility of keeping the public informed about the actions of the Labour Administration very seriously. I know that it is the least that you would expect from me as principle spokesman for the opposition. As we are all aware, it has been the practice of the Labour Administration to appoint itself the judge of what it is appropriate for the public to know.
I feel very strongly that this attitude deprives the public of the democratic duty to scrutinize Government action. I have in the past made the public aware of the various battles that have occurred between this Government and me personally as a businessman to highlight just how much nepotism has become ingrained in public policy.
However, I have kept much out of the public arena in an attempt to maintain some semblance of mature politics. I have discovered that it is almost impossible to do so when your opponent insists on stooping to the lowest levels attacking not just you, but your extended family members also. In light of the recent action taken against the calypsonian "Big Lice" which can only be explained as victimization on account of his cogent calypsos, it is clear that the freedom of speech and of association is under threat.
The only way to protect it, is for those of us who are able to defend ourselves to do so publicly and aggressively. If we don't then the small man is completely at the mercy of those in power. To this end, I took the decision to inform the public of a recent action taken against my father Mr. Warrington Grant by the government.
Mr. Grant owns a lot of land in Main Street Old Road, which he purchased in 1960. For more than 30 years he has received rents from the tenant. He recently decided to develop this land to make it more useful for the community. The tenant refused to vacate the property and a court action was taken. The court ordered the tenant to vacate the premises and in response the tenant went to the Government. It is alleged that the Government has now sold Mr. Grant's land to this tenant for an amount of $7,000.00.
This is more than an allegation since the tenant is now exercising such rights by building a wall fence on the property and has publicly said that the government sold her the land. It is impossible for me to rationalize this action except that it was a personal attack on me and my family. This action shows pure contempt for the law of the land which precisely prescribes the manner in which the Government may seize land as well as utter disregard for the private property of citizens as well as for the contempt of the court which on January the 9th made an order that the tenant vacate the property and pay up all rents outstanding.
Mr. Grant will aggressively pursue this matter in the court.
I am making this public so that everyone is made aware of exactly the sort of tactics are employed by the Government against those they do not like. I take this opportunity to advise and encourage any member of the public who has been deprived of his rights to seek legal counsel and pursue the matter. Only when people defend their rights can they be protected. I urge the public to view this action as an attack by government on the citizens of the country because tomorrow it may be you.
