The opposition-dominated Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in parliament has taken issue with three government facilities that have either been leased or rented out by the Keith Mitchell-led New National Party (NNP) government.

The issue was raised by Opposition Leader Tillman Thomas during a press conference last week with members of the local media.

Thomas told reporters that Grenada could be loosing revenue based on what he cites as inconsistencies regarding the arrangements reached between government and the tenants of the Grenada Trade Center, the old Police Garage at Dusty Highway and Cafeteria at the Ministerial Complex in the Botanical Gardens.

He pointed to claims made by the Director of Audit in his 1999 report under the heading, Rent of Buildings in which it was noted that he had not seen any lease or rental agreement between government and the operators.

According to Thomas who heads the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Mitchell Administration is apparently not collecting monies from the tenants for use of these government buildings.

The Opposition Leader described as rather shady the agreements reached between government and these business operators and called on the regime to stop wasting tax-payers money at a time when the country can ill-afford to do so.

He also took issue with government on the thousands of dollars wasted on the former bus terminus on the Esplanade. He stated that quite a considerable sum was used to construct the facility and it has now been dug up.He also mentioned the Pearls Airstrip which is presently being dug up by government.

Thomas suggested that Government needs to be much more efficient with tax-payers money and in managing State assets in a more efficient manner. He noted that the airstrip at Pearls is very important to the northern part of the island and should be kept intact in order to be used for emergency landing if something goes wrong at the Point Salines International Airport (PSIA).

Thomas was accompanied at the press conference by NDC¹s Shadow Minister of Finance, Nazim Burke and Parliamentary Representative for the Constituency of South St George, Glynnis Roberts.

The female parliamentarian said it appears that the Mitchell government has been leasing these state-owned properties to persons who support the NNP and instead of collecting monies from them turn around and even give them a substantial amount of money to pay their utility bills.

The Old Police Garage was put under the control of Tity Bullen, a mechanic by profession who is known to be a close associate of Minister in the Ministry of National Security, Senator Einstein Louison.

Bullen has also reportedly landed a lucrative job paying him an estimated $4000.00 a month to liase with the Chinese who are rebuilding the national sporting stadium at Queen¹s Park. In addressing reporters, Burke who is a barrister-at-law by profession, described the Director of Audit's report as quite damning.He said the buildings have apparently been given by the NNP to supporters for their personal benefits and called for better structures to be put in place for the leasing or sale of government buildings.

Burke stressed that the Opposition will not rest until the truth is known about the use of government buildings and the rents that are not being collected. The Mitchell administration has responded immediately to the statements made by the opposition members at the press conferenc, saying that it was deeply concerned about the remarks.

A release issued by the Prime Minister¹s office said the statements are not only false and misleading, but also a breach of parliamentary procedure. It pointed out that section 75 of the procedure governing the Public Accounts Commission states that the evidence taken before any Select Committee, whether sessional or special, and any documents presented to such a body should not be published by any member of the committee or by any other person before the Committee presents its report to the house.

It stated that the findings of the PAC Chairman should have been laid in parliament first in order to be debated. The government called on the Leader of the Opposition to respect his position as Chairman of the parliamentary committee and to act more responsible.

It said that government believes the affairs of PAC should be handled transparently and with full accountability and not used for political or other means.

Communication and Works Minister, Dr. Clarice Modeste-Curwen said that a document has been agreed upon and approved by the Governor General with respect to the Trade Centre at Grand Anse.

On the cafeteria at the Ministerial Complex, the female government minister disclosed that government is still in negotiations with the operator. She gave an undertaken to do some investigations on the matter regarding the Police Garage.