Lashley challenges BLP’s housing record

Former Minister of Housing Michael Lashley Q.C. is adamant that something is fundamentally wrong in Barbados when squatters have more rights to land ownership than law-abiding citizens.

At the Democratic Labour Party’s (DLP) official presentation of candidates at Haggatt Hall, St. Michael on Sunday night, he gave all three Barbados Labour Party (BLP) Members of Parliament, who served as ministers in that ministry over the past three years, George Payne, DrWilliam Duguid and Peter Phillips failing grades. Defending his record as the former housing minister under the previous DLP administration, Lashley spoke about the revolution that took place under his leadership, with hundreds of houses being built and supplied to lower to middle-income Barbadians across the island.

In stark contrast, Lashley criticized the BLP’s performance and claimed that the party’s tenure consisted of “six houses in St. George” with additional properties being constructed at Parish Land, St. Philip for squatters.

“I went to Parish Land and realise that they are building houses for squatters. So, you are not the priority anymore. The maids, the gas station workers, public servants, police officers, teachers, they are not relevant to this administration in terms of housing. Imagine that, I have so many people who come to my office asking for housing units, asking for land but you can take up the land up there in Parish Land and give to squatters. Now I understand that you are seeking to solve a social problem, I don’t have a problem with that, but there are other persons who live in Barbados, legal, lawful, law-abiding citizens who have a right to own a piece of this rock and we are giving land up there to squatters.

“I am saying to you tonight, look at our housing programme, look at the performance and you can say to yourself, you are safe with the Democratic Labour Party and you are not safe with the Barbados Labour Party,” said Lashley,

The St. Philip North candidate pledged that as part of his party’s goal to preserve democracy, it was their intent to repeal the Mia Mottley government’s Debt Settlement (Arrears) Bill which outlined that individuals and businesses whose lands were compulsory acquired by Government would be compensated in a new series of Government bonds. Lashley deemed this as unconstitutional.

“The Constitution of this country says that if you acquire land that you must compensate them fairly and within a reasonable time but now persons are about to be dispossessed of their property because you are being paid in bonds. And not only that, there is a time period for you to get payment. They [the bonds] mature over 42 months and then there are 42 equal payments and you are out of your land, out of your property that is protected by the Constitution. You have fundamental rights and I am saying to you that this must stop. A Democratic Labour Party’s first order of business should repeal that legislation because it is contrary to your fundamental rights.

“I want you to examine the performance of the Barbados Labour Party. I want you to critically analyze what is happening in this country because when a prime minister can say that be careful voting for an opposition, to my mind respectfully, that is really an insult to ordinary Barbadians. You have a right under the Constitution to support any political party . . . and you have a duty to protect democracy and the rule of law in this country. . . .  We have to save this country from dictatorship. This is an important election and indeed we have to ensure that democracy is protected,” he added. (KC)