An assessment committee is soon to be named by the new Grenada government to investigate the wanton distribution of government lands on the two small sister isles days before the July 8 general election.
This was disclosed by Minister for Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs, Senator George Prime during the weekly Cabinet briefing held last week Tuesday with the local media.
Prime sought to downplay statements made by the main Opposition New National Party (NNP) that the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration had embarked on a "witch-hunt" on the land distribution issue.
He stated that the assessment undertaken by the two month old regime is "necessary" and "crucial" and "not a witch hunt".
According to Sen. Prime, the Tillman Thomas-led government had promise to adopt a practice of accountability and transparency and keeping the public informed on all issues.
He described as "disturbing" the findings so far that lands were approved for 340 persons between the June 13-17, less than a month before the elections.
He told reporters that the situation is compounded by the fact that nine out of ten persons who received approval for lands did not meet the requirements of "poor and needy".
In addition, there is no evidence of applications being made by these people for Crown lands.
Sen. Prime said the criteria under which State lands can be given out include whether the applicant already has land and his/her ability to pay.
He added that the list provided by ministry officials clearly indicate that a number of persons who received the lands did not meet the criteria.
He said that some of these persons who received properties indicated that they paid monies for the land but there is no record of receipt of these funds.
Sen. Prime also made mention of a report that arose from a review of the Emergency Housing Program which points to abuse of the project by former ministers.
He noted that four persons received loans in 2007 amounting to $9,252.12 and grants to the tune of $36,027.40, but six months to the general elections 40 persons received benefits of $95,012.16 in loans and another 118 persons given grants of $353,850.36.
The report identified the former Minister of Carriacou and Petit Martinique Affairs, Elvin Nimrod as the person whose signature appears on the receipts that were processed by the treasury.
Sen. Prime pointed out that this is another breach of the standard procedure to be followed.
The Thomas-led administration has been bringing to the attention of the public alleged cases of abuses under the previous Keith Mitchell regime.
Preliminary reports suggest that the most blatant abuses occurred a few weeks before the general election.
A number of reports have been submitted to Attorney General James Bristol for legal direction.
