 Mr. Speaker, it was never my intention to speak on this resolution, because generally I tend to believe Mr. Speaker that when a resolution is settled in this August chamber, it was a resolution that brings relief to the people of this country, and in this instance, 8,000 people, there would be very little room for debate. But you see Mr. Speaker, when you hear utterances that carry not an idea of truth, clearly intended to sensationalize and deceive, the compunction assails me and the need to respond becomes an obligation. Mr. Speaker, I juxtapose what the leader of the opposition and member for Miku South said in his contribution today alongside the untruths that he spews on social media under his name. And you wonder whether the member for Miku South remembers anything or suffers from selective amnesia. The audacity of this individual Mr. Speaker had him posting on social media a huge, a fact, a humongous, a grandiose, a too heavy to carry lie. Just like Mr. Speaker, he keeps on lying and deceiving the people, wanting them to believe that this government sold the port. He actually posted, repeated and said on a multiplicity of occasions that we as a government sold the port. Clearly Mr. Speaker, this was a deceitful statement intended to cause sensationalism. It is more than dishonesty, that's putting it mildly. It basically speaks to someone Mr. Speaker who lacks the ability to retain even his own name. So sometimes when he speaks, he qualifies it by saying the truth is what you believe it to be. So anything he says and he believes it, it is the truth. So in his head and his head alone, we, the accusation of we selling the ports is true only to him. Mr. Speaker, another utterance that he made and he's doing all of this Mr. Speaker in an attempt to assist him in keeping afloat his sinking leadership boat. But there are two sailors on that boat called Andy and Ozzie. And those sailors will ensure that that boat sinks, the Christians. So that leadership boat is down to submerged. Mr. Speaker, you will not believe that again on social media another lie, the first one is we sold the ports. I suspect you were born on all liars day. They have all fools day, I don't know why. I think I'll ask. I have given you great liberty but consistently referring to a member of the house as a liar is unparliamentary. I think you can use another word to say exactly what you want to say. The untruth teller. Okay. Mr. Speaker, why? Mr. Speaker, that's one of the arguments I always get myself involved in. If a member has been factual and can substantiate whatever he assumes. And it is Andrew Paul and I had that discussion I remember one time. He said even if he knows and he was referring to the leader of the opposition was then prime minister. Even if he knows and he can decipher the lies that he told you know in his mind this man ought not lie. So he will use some other words anyhow. I am guided Mr. Speaker. But Mr. Speaker, another untruth is that he posted today's boyings would bring our boyings as a government. In excess of half a billion dollars. Yes he did. He posted it under his name on social media. And what is worse Mr. Speaker, they are persons who are supposedly intelligent. They take this and they run with it expecting their leader to be telling them the truth. They came down on this government for the allegation of selling the ports. Which is untruth. They are going all over the place. They even said there is no longer Mādi Puete's Mādi Bole. That is how far they have gone Mr. Speaker. In response to a false allegation that our boyings today will bring us in excess of half a billion dollars. You know, a leader. A leader. Your leadership boat is sinking and you are seeking to cause sensationalism by having the few noisemakers latched on to you. The other birthday party I counted 12 he wasn't even there. A leader who had promised to have 15,000 people converge on the square. Mr. Speaker, I passed there in a surreptitious week. Clarification, are you yielding? Are you yielding member of the Cassidy Centre? No I wouldn't yield. Clarification though, it is a point of order yes. His clarification is cause for further confusion. Mr. Speaker, the leader of your position said he will have 15,000 people congregate on the Derek Walker square. But guess what he didn't even know. He did not even know whether the demonstration was. He disembarked from the Bijiville. By which time the vehicle left, he had to walk from the Bijiville to the square. So he didn't even know. And I rather suspect he didn't know where the party for him was. But Mr. Speaker, on a very serious note Mr. Speaker, you cannot as a leader, as an ex prime minister, be feeding your people, your followers with so many untruths, not one or too many. We sold the ports. Mr. Speaker, this government to fund the 2022-2023 budget is yet to borrow one penny. That, let me repeat, to finance this year's budget. That run from the 4th of April 2022 to back 34th 2023. We have borrowed not one penny. Not, I did not say that within the confines of the budget an intention to borrow was not expressed. I'm not saying that. I'm not saying that. I am saying today since the passage of the budget we are yet to borrow one penny. But eventually we will have to because the budget has to be financed. But for this individual Mr. Speaker to tell his people that this will take us to over half a billion dollars is a blatant untruth. You see Mr. Speaker, this leader of the opposition, ex prime minister, members of Miku South, has the record for borrowing. And we can check the record, it will prove it. He has the record of borrowing the most money borrowed by any government in Wellington was under the leader of them. And that can be substantiated Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, you know, I sit and I listen to the leader of the opposition. And sometimes I'm wondering why am I in politics. You know why if I want to be in politics and deceive as much as the leader of the opposition and tell so many untruths and be such a hypocrite. I don't want to be in politics. Mr. Speaker, whilst the leader of the opposition sat right here in that seat, another post of his that today we are creating new jobs for the boys by making room for the appointment of a deputy speaker. Can you imagine Mr. Speaker? In five years you have this chamber functioning without a deputy speaker. In five years you made a mockery of the constitution. When you were interrogated, you said that the constitution said when it's convenient to me. Five years left it wasn't convenient. We are seeking to kill an effect. We are seeking to bring normalcy because you know the constitution envisaged that there will be honorable men and women who have to ensure that the stipulations within the constitution are adhered to. That's correct before he was born. But he came the leader of the opposition into the political periphery and all recruits Mr. Speaker. Truthfully disregarded the constitution and not only in that regard he started off his dinner. The constitution clearly said that there shall be a sitting of parliament within 30 days after the general election. He disregarded that. When interviewed you know what he said Mr. Speaker? The constitution imposes no sanctions. You know taking our most supreme law for partition Mr. Speaker and then want to come and pose yourself as some kind of authoritarian holding moral high ground. Where? Where? So you disrespected it by having parliament beyond the 30 days you thought he disrespected it by not appointing a deputy speaker and guess what Mr. Speaker? You know why he did not appoint a deputy speaker? Because he wanted to make room for the largest cabinet in the history of St. Lucia. He had the largest cabinet in the history of St. Lucia. So the deputy speaker that position as mandated by the constitution was sacrificed as he relied on his own interpretation of as far as or when it's convenient. And here we are. Here we are attempting to ensure that when this honourable men enter the honourable chamber they are obligated to comply with the stipulations of the law. So we are seeking to amend this constitution to ensure that the prime ministers hands are relieved. I will get there you know but it is deceit in the same thing I am talking about Mr. Speaker. You opened the door, you opened it. Yes you sat here and posted that and you know the worst thing? Guess who's talking about me looking for a job for friend family and foreigners. I could not believe the man is quoting FFF. I could not believe it. Yes but you know what Mr. Speaker when we get there I will ensure that I have a copy of the post and making the document of the house. You know Mr. Speaker that is the kind of hypocrisy I don't like. You took advantage of a situation. There is clearly a loophole. You took advantage of it. In fact I will ask us to amend the constitution as well to say anytime a man becomes prime minister and he fails to convene parliament within 30 days he shall be liable to 6 months imprisonment. So you will not say there are no sanctions. It is sadly it is people like you who disregard our law who disregard our constitution that cause us to be in constitutional dilemma headed for the court taking years and years to resolve and if you don't know there is also convention how has it been done before in the absence of Michael interpretation and that is the first time again in the history of this country that for 5 years we didn't have a deputy speaker. Now Mr. Speaker I have another thing again. We did not we did not want to pay liat workers because we will try to fix the economy. You know. Yes you did. Majestic only and whichever. Which one did you see? Which one? Majestic. I stand corrected by my very good friend who seldom remembers the truth. He said Mr. Speaker that we did not pay the majestic workers because we were trying to fix the economy. I want to talk about your face. Mr. Speaker I was in a cabinet of ministers with the leader of the opposition. The leader of the opposition was then Minister of Tourism. You remember? I know you remember much. You remember you said on the day of ten as Minister of Tourism you would build 13 hotels. You remember that? With me. 13 hotels. But Mr. Speaker as Minister of Tourism you get millions and millions away to American Airlines. You get millions to foreign aircraft. Say Airlines to foreign Airlines. Say Airlines. And you open your mouth and you said you will not assist me. Mr. Speaker the allocation to Ministry of Tourism which was supposed to have been used to promote St. Lucia's destination was being used to make donations to foreign Airlines except for you. What were you giving them money for? Donations. What are they? American was coming here with empty seats because guess what the Minister of Tourism had already paid for the vacant seats. That is a fact. I remember one year Mr. Speaker the allocation to the Ministry of Tourism was $50 million. It was increased. Mr. Speaker I speak from a standpoint of knowledge $50 million because person who have the view there is a tourism guru at the helm but it turned out to be a tourism because boxing in paradise took so much of our money SCCF contracts donations to airlines nothing to promote the better good of this country you know your food and run festival you know my ex Prime Minister is reminding me he was the one who made the allocations you know and today you have the audacity the goal to come into this honorable house you know the ex Prime Minister said he thought the member was a tourism guru and those of fast Mr. Speaker those of fast oh Apple you are Minister of Tourism is the same way you are Minister of Tourism they give you to run the tourism ministry you bring in Apple to help you work it is the same way you are Minister of Finance we are never in the history of this country the money to help us do our budgets our loyal civil servants always came to the call but no Eunsan Yong Eunsan Yong get Eunsan old now money they have so you know and you know Mr. Speaker when he was questioned he said he didn't even take one percent of the budget you moving a budget of 1.8 billion one percent is 18 million you have the audacity to even tell us how much it costs you Sir John never did that Kenny Anthony never did that Philip J. Pierre never did that there was no ex Prime Minister whether did that the loyal civil servants were there but for the first three years he had no faith in them he sidelined them he disregarded them and that's what Mr. Speaker when things got rough and there was no money in the government coffers he reverted to them he reverted to them and today want to come in this chamber and pretend you have all the answers which answers which answers which answers you have in 2016 our economy was the best performing economy in the OECS the best you left it at the worst you know in 2016 Mr. Speaker we were paying 32 million dollars in rent when he left it in 2021 our rental bill had gone up to 72 million a year he almost doubling it or more than doubling it more than doubling it I'm coming to orange grove the head of Mr. Speaker and it's a fact that he rented five offices from his father so part of the increase went to pay rent to his own father no it's not conflict of interest it's not corruption it's not unethical in his eyes you know and then want to come here and then want to come here and pretend you know everything Mr. Speaker you know what is funny you know what is funny Mr. Speaker the leader of the opposition never entertain lead workers and mind you they were both flabo and labor in lea he never entertain the majestic workers they were both labor and flabo in majestic but to appease them to play on the conscience he said I congratulate the government for paying them so that out there in their minds boss know how people know he could have done it Mr. Speaker but he didn't do it and guess his excuse we were busy fixing the economy how you were fixing the economy when you take 7.3 million dollars and gave to a man who does business if your brother in law that's how you were fixing the economy and you know I'm coming the man gives us but part of our 7.3 million dollars the leader of the opposition at the audacity to go on television and to tell the people of this country they are happy they got part of the money back I said that creep for election I don't know if you'll be there though because I don't know if Andy and Ozzy will do what they have to do Mr. Speaker yes I'm straining to try to stop you okay but I recognize that the member from microsoft inserted in his debate the ministerial statement that he put the door ja and unfortunately I've just kicked it down but I really am trying to stop you I just can't very well Mr. Speaker that's why I actually sang don't open the door not and the door shall be open he brought it in he was busy fixing the economy 7.3 million dollars and lied to us told us the truth Mr. Speaker told us the truth by saying Barberas paid money as well Barberas did not pay one penny not one penny so far we have been refunded I don't know if it's bad Mr. the prime minister begged the man for our money back because the prime minister is in desperate need of money the man sent us 2.7 he has 4.6 left for us on behalf of the government and people of St. Lucia I am asking the member from microsoft to make an assiduous effort to retrieve the money that came from our conference and for which you have received no value that's how you were fixing the economy were you fixing the economy by giving rock over 32 million dollars to tell us where to plant grass that's how you fix the economy were you fixing the economy when sandals collected 24 million dollars on our behalf and you have sent to keep it that's how you fixing the economy when you fixing the economy when you gave the SSH our land that's a dollar and acre for us for 99 years that's how you fixing the economy you spent 11 million dollars on a bypass road for TRK that's how you fixing the economy 15 million St. Lucia St. Lucia there is no lock box there is a lock box St. Lucia the foundation was estimated at 3 million up to 9 million came through that's how you fixing the economy 12 million dollars to Pomanu 12 million to tell us what our locals have told us all the time fixing the economy man which economy which economy there is a blue economy there and there is a real economy there which one will you fix what economy were you fixing hear of it give SSH out within 2 weeks signing an agreement giving SSH right to sell our passports and the proceeds can remain in a foreign bank to which we have no access that's how you fixing the economy man you demolish up to now we don't have a prisoner holding facility I built it I built it look a little bit you probably will never the member for me will not be the prime minister I was minister of physical development I built it you demolished it you demolished it today we have to find money to build another prisoner holding facility that's how you fixing the economy 7 million that's how you fixing you are breaking the economy you are mashing it up that's what you were doing talk about fixing go and acquire a hotel government is not a hotelier you are a hotelier when you want to convert really acquire Caribbean jewels and then ask investors to pay with over 50 million dollars in register debt that's a fact that is a fact that's not a fact but the shock lands in Bremen member for SSH out of us this speaker I looked at the opposition the land was not compulsory was it Caribbean jewels the land was purchased by it was in a receivership that is not correct member for SSH if you don't know something for faculty member for South point of order clarification clarification clarification point of order that is a point of order that is a point of order that is a point of order the same method that was used for the lands in the south in view 4 when we had all these lands that were in receivership were there because of the Icelandic bank he knows well he is a lawyer you can buy the company but if you buy the company you don't know what liabilities you're buying into the company so the mechanism that was used was we agreed with the receiver on how much the amount was going to be paid and we compulsory acquired the land in order to not have to take over the company but that's exactly what they said no it's not what you said member for Microsoft are you agreeing with him that you are the purpose of what he is suggesting is that we just acquired we did not be acquired in agreement with the receivers but he never disputed how he merely said that it was compulsorily acquired that we agreed with him that's all I said you know Mr. Speaker it's a fact you compulsorily acquired a hotel when government is not a hotelier and the proceeds of the acquisition are passed on to private entities you acquired a hotel government not a hotelier made any minister acquire a hotel massive by Kimoon those of it and then you talk about fixing the economy fixing what Mr. Speaker there was a company that says it can train people they stayed at Coco Pam they stayed at Coco Pam and the government and people of St. Lucia funded the training of cabinet ministers by that very agency Dr. Bat they train you the man our representative our ambassador to England at the time ambassador of mares even flew down to be trained by Dr. Bat and the bill was footed by the taxpayers of this country you were fixing the economy you were fixing the economy you know Mr. Speaker under the stewardship of the member we acquired the orange grove hotel make no castle is north sorry under stewardship it was something I was never in agreement with but it went through we spent in excess of fifty million dollars cumulatively on that hotel yes on the building sorry orange grove mall you see that hotel thing that stick in my mind already orange grove plaza we spent in excess of fifty million dollars under plaza paying two hundred and fifty two thousand dollars a month in interest but here comes the member from Miku south prime minister then sells it for five million US which is thirteen point five million EC and in the deed within the confines of the deed enters into an agreement that would guarantee the purchaser cumulatively fifty two million dollars we park open and say it in Korean Mr. Speaker on the point of order members misleading the house again the acquisition of the sale of the orange grove was only for the ground floor government owns the second and third floor and government sold the ground floor so the entire building was valued at thirty million EC and that's what it was sold for the ten million US dollars so five million for the ground floor five million for upstairs and the developers agreed to now to go in the remaining of the building of which government will pay a rent of four dollars so I would still be like to hear from the member, particularly from the member from the minister of finance whether in fact that he's now examined the deal whether in fact he thinks it's a bad deal the reality is government didn't have to put any cash out and we're going to be able to take a piece of land that has been undeveloped for so many years and has now been going to come and make a meaningful contribution to our economy at this time in fact the rental the average rent we're paying now in the system is in excess of five dollars this is going to be for four dollars so I certainly would like to correct the member maybe he didn't read the fine detail to understand that element of it member of castry central the member of amicus sol has said that the building was not sold it was the ground floor the ground floor Mr. Speaker I know you are one who knows a lot Mr. Speaker to sell any part of a building now it must be sold in accordance with the condominium act there is a deal of sale of the property registered from the government of st. lusia from amazona properties a company owned by the government of st. lusia to whoever there is a registered deal of sale what it is within that deal it says that the government undertakes and I remember the square footage 78,406 square feet at four dollars a square foot that's correct right good how much is that monthly I don't know you just told us it's at four dollars four dollars a square foot Mr. Speaker with one and three quarter acres of land the first business here 43,000 almost two acres you sold the property you are turning back you are turning back and rent two floors if you sold the ground floor I have to pay rent you sold the property turned back rent almost 80,000 square feet at four dollars a square foot which is almost three hundred three hundred and twenty thousand dollars a month ten sir Mr. Speaker ten sir we have a building which is in Orange Grove we have passed a whole secret million dollars company the church and the money for 12 million 12.6 million dollars 13 and a half even if the money is being sold it will be sold Phawā. Phawā. And that is how you fix the economy. You sold the ground floor. That's a new one. Because you know what? You have given me fodder. I will get the deed. I will make the deed public. I promise you. I will make the deed public. You sold the ground floor. There is a, it's not, anyway. The S.H.O.S. public here you call it a fake. But Mr. Speaker, that is the kind of leadership we had in this country. That is the kind of leadership we had in this country. And you know what Mr. Speaker? Our prime minister has a philosophy. You never blame the recipient of a sweet deal. Blame the person who on governments behalf gave that other person such a sweet deal. If the United Workers Party had come to me now and had asked me for $13.5 million. I don't have it though, but I would even sell my underwear to take advantage of the deal that was given on Orange Grove. Because $13.5 million and guaranteed $370,000 a month for 16 years. What more do you need? The bank wouldn't even want to deposit. That is how sweet the deal is Mr. Speaker. Remember Mr. Speaker? Remember where did he refer to a reduction or increase in rent? He is not, but he is saying that we have paid X dollars and we are spending Y. That is why he said he is misleading the house. Well I didn't get that impression. I didn't rent on top of it. I am saying this is to substitute. That was the intention. No, no, no. That is why it is four dollars a square foot. Remember Mr. Speaker, I had no incision of any suggestion. I had a direct statement that X dollars was sold for X dollars even though we bought it for Y. And thereafter we are renting a certain amount that will cost us over a 16 year period more than 30 million dollars. I never read anything about increase or decrease in rental. Mr. Speaker, if the member is saying that it is going to be 300,000 dollars a month in additional rent. Did you hear him say that Mr. Speaker? No, he didn't use the word additional. He just said it is 300,000 dollars rent. So am I not to imply that there is going to be an increase in rent of 300,000 dollars a month? Well, you are free to imply what you want. Can I take it? You can take it how you want. The speaker didn't take it that way. And that is what matters. Can I get your clarification? My clarification is that all I heard the member of a car street central say was while he was minister, they bought a building and spent nearly 15 million dollars overall on that building. That building was then sold for 13.5 million dollars. You have attempted to clarify it was only the ground floor. That's in the air. Out of that 13.5 million dollars you are renting, you have agreed to rent over 70,000 square feet at 4 dollars which comes to 300,000 dollars a month. That's all he said. Okay Mr. Speaker. In that same vein, because if I say he has land there which is a fact and if I said he has signed an yes deal which is a fact, he will say I am implying that because he has land there he has signed an yes deal. And he has been caught for that. He has been caught for that. I said member of his family is the director of a family which is a fact. She has been caught for that. So you understand. Remember you can't litigate what's in court here right? Very well Mr. Speaker. But it is along those same lines. I spoke factually. That we bought a building. Spent cumulatively in excess of 50 million dollars on the building. He turned around so the building for 13.5 million dollars. And in the same agreement in the deal which I had yesterday, unfortunately Mr. Speaker, as I said, I really didn't come prepared to make a contribution. I didn't because I never envisage. Because I never envisage that my friend would have opened the door. You know? And Mr. Speaker, he sold it 13.5 million dollars and guarantees the purchaser in excess of 52 million dollars over the 16-year period. And it's easy to calculate. He has just admitted that he rented something here, he rented 1000 square feet and 4 square feet. That's almost 320 thousand by 12. That's about four million a year. Sixteen years. Sixteen years. Sixteen years. And that is how you tell me. You stand in this house, before the people of this country and tell us you will fix in the economy. Mr. Speaker, just imagine, in the agreement, and I told my colleagues that yesterday, we were supposed to have that delivery of the building by a certain date. That day that's passed, the court was supposed to have moved there in accordance with the agreement he signed. Today, Mr. Speaker, we still continue to pay $40,000 a month to house the court where it currently is because the completion date has passed and we have been given new building. And then Mr. Speaker, you hear, I was busy fixing the economy. Mr. Speaker, I want to say, I will save the best for last and will await the member to speak on another resolution that we have there. I didn't intend to make any contribution as I said, but Mr. Speaker, like I said, when the door is opened, you enter and I cannot sit idly by and hear the member from Mikusouth spewing so many untruths which, if left on challenge, would have gone down the annals of belief. I thank you, Mr. Speaker.