Opposition leader Ralph Gonsalves on Wednesday criticised Prime Minister Godwin Friday’s “deafening” silence on several key issues and specifically challenged him to provide updates on the situation in Canouan.
Gonsalves wants the PM to detail what he discussed with stakeholders on the island and has meeting with Andrea Pignataro regarding Canouan.
In 2025, Gonsalves stated that he had offered to meet with representatives of investor Andrea Pignataro as the government was moving to buy back lands under the Canouan lease arrangement.
He questions whether Friday intends to continue the policies initiated by the previous ULP administration before the election or if he is allowing “Pignataro to “blow smoke in his eye”.
Gonsalves expressed concern that the new administration might allow things to “continue essentially as usual” with only minor amendments rather than implementing meaningful policy.
The Opposition leader indicated that he intends to have more to say regarding Canouan and Friday’s approach during the budget debates.
While challenging the Prime Minister on these administrative matters, Gonsalves maintains that he is not attacking individuals but is focused on the discussion of public affairs in Parliament.
Before coming to office in 2001, Gonsalves had criticised the 99-year lease that the then New Democratic Party (NDP) government had signed with investors. However, the Gonsalves government leased even more lands to the investors.
The Mitchell government lease placed two-thirds of the 1,200-acre island into the hands of investors and allowed them to sell the land for freehold.