Published 14 August 2017
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News
Victor Williams accuses Minister Ian Liburd of gross misrepresentation of the truth and slander
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, AUGUST 14TH 2017 – One of the Federation’s well respected planner and architect, Mr. Victor Williams has accused Minister of Infrastructure, Hon. Ian Patches Liburd of gross misrepresentation of the truth, giving misinform and slander.
Mr. Williams was responding to comments made by Minister Liburd in the National Assembly last Thursday.
Mr. Liburd under Statement by Ministers said he was disappointed that knowledgeable people are scaring others on the radio on the Basseterre High School issue.
Mr. Liburd told Parliament that he had to recommend the construction of a new Basseterre High School because there was a lot of suffering by teachers and students alike; that a group of local experts including Athill Rawlins and Cromwell Williams, decided that the present site is the best site because it is downstream and the risk of contamination to the Basseterre valley Aquifer is mitigated by monitoring and control of waste water as recommended including a feasibility study for waste water for Basseterre (St. Kitts) and Charlestown (Nevis).
Mr. Liburd in launching his attack on Mr. Williams, in his capacity as former Chairman of the Development Control and Planning Board (DCPB) accused Mr. Williams of turning a blind eye while raw sewage was dumped by tenants on The Strip into the Frigate Bay ponds, of approving the construction of a house on the beach at Frigate Bay and that his comments regarding the new Basseterre High School are premature because the final concept is not yet completed and it is only after the final concept is done then an Environmental Impact Assessment can be done.
In responding, Mr. Williams said his comments cannot be premature, because he took the limited information that the Team Unity Government and he gave.
“I have added the minimum design parameters that must be included for a project of this magnitude. I then I came up with what I considered to be the minimum size and minimum global cost. I then explained to the nation what the minimum requirements must be. These factors must inform any further movement on the project,” said Mr. Williams.
He denied approving any residential building to be constructed on the beach at Frigate Bay as such approval is given by the Frigate Bay Development Corporation Board and not the Development Control and Planning Board (DCPB) and that the allegation of sewage from the buildings on The Strip at Frigate Bay is under the responsibility of the Frigate Bay Development Corporation and not the Development Control and Planning Board.
“I have said repeatedly that no definitive site can be determined to house the new Basseterre High School (BHS) until a proper Environmental Impact Assessment is done and I maintain that position,” said Mr. Williams.
He advised Minister Liburd to consult him directly if he needs to find out any further information.
“I am ready, willing and able to meet him – face to face and enlighten him to the facts. He needs not hide behind the immunity of Parliament and make these totally vicious, obscene and inaccurate accusations. The minister has uttered vacuous and vaporous statements which at best are a gross misrepresentation of the truth intended to malign, misinform and slander,” said Williams.
Photo 1 – Mr. Victor Williams
Photo 2 – Mr. Ian Patches Liburd
