Chatham Bay land sale to AHRA LLC faces scrutiny

Prime Minister Godwin Friday has addressed criticism regarding the sale of approximately 100 acres of land at Chatham Bay, Union Island, to AHRA LLC for EC$52.7 million. The government maintains the sale is intended for conservation, with binding covenants to protect the area’s biodiversity. As a safeguard, the government holds a two-year option to repurchase the land at the original sale price.

The Prime Minister defended the transaction against opposition claims regarding land valuation. He argued that previous valuations cited by Opposition Leader Ralph Gonsalves were based on the land’s potential for intensive resort development, whereas the current sale reflects land with restricted development potential due to conservation requirements.

Critics have raised concerns regarding the transparency of the deal. While the government identified AHRA LLC as the purchaser, observers have noted that the identity of the company’s ultimate beneficial owners, managers, and directors remains undisclosed. Additionally, there are calls for the government to publish the full independent valuation report to substantiate the claim that the sale price represents fair value.