On September 6, 2006, the Nation News proclaimed…
BARBADOS’ FIRST manufacturing plant, designed to mass produce houses for lower-income earners, should be up and running at Six Roads, St Philip, by year-end.
That was the word yesterday from Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Clyde Mascoll, during an interview after taking part in a panel discussion on poverty eradication the conference room of the National Insurance Scheme, Frank Walcott Building, Culloden Road, St Michael.
Mascoll said the $1 million project would see the importation of hardwood from Guyana and the subsequent pre-designing of the houses at the plant before eventually reaching the consumer…
… “We are now in the process of developing, along with the BIDC, a formal arrangement where the necessary financing would be accessed. There is already agreement in terms of financing the project,” he noted. (See the Nation News article Homes To Go)
But The Hardwood Company Hadn’t Even Been Registered Yet!
It is interesting that on September 6, 2006, Minister Mascoll says that “There is already agreement in terms of financing the project,”
Interesting because Hardwood Housing Factory Inc., the controversial company that is now at the center of corruption and non-performance allegations, wasn’t registered until November 2, 2006 – some two months after the financing agreement had been arranged. I wonder who or what entity that financing agreement was with? It certainly wasn’t with a company that didn’t exist until two months later!
Minister Clyde Mascoll
The BIG Question: Which Barbados Politicians Are Involved With The Guyanese Hardwood Exporters & Suppliers?
Thanks to the facts coming out of the VECO corruption scandal in Alaska, we know more about how corrupt politicians pocket money during government business deals. The FBI investigation and hours of secretly taped phone calls revealed the corrupt techniques commonly used by VECO with US and foreign politicians. Golly, I wonder if VECO was able to teach any of its tricks to Barbados politicians during the building of the oil terminal and the jail? (Shona says that it would be the Bajan politicians who were teaching VECO) 
Applying the same corrupt techniques to the hardwood homes situation made me realize that a perfect source of kickbacks for Barbados politicians involved in approving this project and the 1 million dollar loan would be in Guyana with the hardwood suppliers.
Instead of the Barbados factory paying “X” for hardwood from Guyana, Minister Mascoll, his agents or other Barbados government members could ensure that the factory paid “X” plus 10% – with that extra 10% going to the offshore bank accounts of the Barbados government officials. To further obscure the kickbacks, the Guyanese hardwood supplier could “hire” corrupt politicians or their family members to “consult” on business matters totally unrelated to the hardwood contract. This is how VECO pays kickbacks to corrupt politicians, and it may be that the Guyanese hardwood supplier has done the same.
So we have a few simple questions for Minister Clyde Mascoll. He should be able to answer them off the top of his head, but we aren’t holding our breath…
Dear Minister Mascoll,
1/ Have you, any member of your family or anyone in Barbados received any payment, commission, consulting fee, gift or any benefit at all from any person or company in the supply chain of hardwood to Hardwood Housing Factory Inc.?
2/ Do you or any of your family members have bank accounts or assets outside of Barbados? Did any of the funds in those outside accounts or assets originate from persons or companies who have done business with the Government of Barbados at any time?
3/ Name all the persons and companies in the hardwood supply chain to Hardwood Housing Factory Inc.
All of the above information would normally be available to citizens of countries that have integrity legislation, conflict of interest regulations, disclosure laws and freedom of information requirements of government.
You know… DEMOCRATIC countries where dedicated and responsible government officials at least have standards and laws that they must adhere to.
Over to you, Minister Mascoll…
66 Comments
October 7, 2007 at 10:13 pm
aren’t these questions just as libellous as the question asked of Min Lynch????
**************
BFP Comments
I suppose under the standards imposed by the Barbados Government – which are that no citizen is allowed to ask any question, no matter how reasonable under the circumstances – these questions will not be answered.
The Barbados government is a dictatorship that answers to no one except themselves. Certainly they won’t reply to any citizen.
October 7, 2007 at 11:45 pm
Veco = rotten inexperienced political facilitator company
BNB= Barbadian National Bank sold to the Trinis with all kinds of government fees that were never made while in Government hands
Does this mean that Veco=BNB?
David Thompson= friends of Clico and the Trinis
Does this mean that Thompsons silence makes sense? Does he know fully what is going on? Is he protecting, or worse, part of the corruption?
October 8, 2007 at 1:00 am
It is amazing how little time it took Mr. Mascoll to adopt the ways of the BLP.
BFP and Mr. Thompson, please keep digging at this one. Mr. Mascoll is in this one up to his teeth. He prepared most of the work that was submitted to EGFL by Mr. Murrell. Mr. Mascoll then took and extremely personal interest in the approval of the funds, so much so that he had to get both the Deputy PM and PM to intervene once the CEO of EGFL deemed to be giving the project a hard time.
October 8, 2007 at 1:41 am
Big surprise.
When Mascoll jumped from being captain of the DLP ship he was promised front row at the BLP feeding party.
It is a testament to his nonaptitude that it took him so long to start now that he will probably lose his seat in the next election for betraying those who voted for him he is in a big hurry.
His mentor, OA, should be proud.
October 8, 2007 at 2:14 am
Good story, BFP! Mascoll got sticky fingers and the Guyana hardwood supplier is probably a place to look for graft.
October 8, 2007 at 2:19 am
Please post more on VECO and also that Canada trial with the PM and Chief Justice. Was that Canada trial or charges or whatever really dropped? The other BLP blog said it was all fake. Was it fake? (the trial in canada about the PM?)
October 8, 2007 at 2:49 am
While we are it and on the subject of Hardwood Holdings, I have a few riddles I would like to pose lets start, why is it that the Guyanese workers employed at this company are being paid more than their Barbadian counterparts?
Why has the Manager only been charged with abuse of two of the three women?
Why would he fire these same ones that he molested only to have them bring the union and Sir Leroy Trotman into the action to have them reinstated?
Was it Sir Leroy that first alerted the Commissioner of Police about this abuse of power and position within the company and was he only charged after the leader of the opposition applied pressure to the point that the force would have appeared to be failing in their duty had they continued to refuse to act?
What are the interconnecting relationships of Mark Shorey, Mariano Browne, Clyde Mascoll,Owing’s cheque for $ 750,000.00, Tony Hoyos and Hardwood holdings?
More to follow on this scene it is not nice either!!!
Why does a carpenter assume the role of Managing director in the absence of Clyde Mascoll is he a blue eyed boy of Mascoll?
Who owns the equipment that the gov’t provided the taxpayers funding for I am sure it is not vested in Hardwood Holdings!!
Is it true that Clyde Mascoll is the defacto Managing Director of Hardwood Holdings and is only cashing in on his allocation given to him by Owing for his crossing the floor?
How is it that this company can be granted this level of financing and in such haste without the assistance and coordination of those at a very high level within the gov’t structure?
Are some of these same directors of Hardwood Holding now advising Barbadians about shares and the deal with BS and T etc?
Why would this story have been cancelled from being aired on CBC with one telephone call from Mr Hoyos, who just so happens to sit on both boards that is the CBC board and Hardwood Holdings board?
Like everything else going on in Barbados at this time this smells of gross corruption and dishonest acts.
One other quiz for you who is the head of the Enterprise Growth Fund and what is their connection to Hardwood Holdings ???????
http://egfl.bb/aboutus.htm
Start to put this picture together folks, Mariano Browne, was the Managing Director at the Bank from which Owing’s $ 750,000.00 cheque was written, Mark Shorey was the Chairman.
Mariano Browne has been charged and is before the courts for illegal behaviour in relation to his action while at this same bank.
However he has been given the post of Chairman of the Enterprise Growth Fund despite his pending court action for illegal activities.
Also to notice that a Anthony Hoyos also sits on this board of directors of the Enterprise Growth Fund Limited and just happens to sit on the board of the company Hardwood Holdings here we have a director sitting on the lending board seeing after these grants to his company the receiver of these said funds, does this not beg the question where are his morals actually were are any of their morals?
Profile of Directors
Name Position
Mariano R. Browne Chairman
Peter J. Miller Deputy Chairman
Marjorie P. Downes-Grant
Jefferson O. Reeves
John A. F. Cole
Almroth A. E. Williams
Stephen E. Emtage
Edward H. C. Griffith
Anthony Hoyos
October 8, 2007 at 9:41 am
in a few short paragraphs, it can be seen how easy it is for the love of money to consume people to the point where they will steal, break or bend (or even alter) rules to suit their purposes. above all remember this, money by it’s very nature is transient, and as a result of this comes the desire to acquire more of it, which itself leads to greed, and greed inevitably will lead to a slip-up at some point.
many of our elected officials have gone past the point of no return, and have now invested their last hopes in bullying, legal maneuvers and downright gutter behaviour in a effort to stem the flow of previously unknown information to the populace.
October 8, 2007 at 12:12 pm
The blp site must be fuming as this is posted there for all to see-:
Phoenix // Oct 5th 2007 at 4:38 pm
Well I always knew the BFP & BU had you BLP bastards squeeezed by the NINNIES !
Where is my further proof ?
Answer : Weekend Nation of 5 th October 2007 !
The BLP column now proclaims that the Barbados Free Press ( BFP ) & Barbados Underground ( BU ) have done untold damage to Barbados !
If that is your view so be it…….the best part of their DIATRIBE is that they have given BFP & BU well earned PUBLICITY !
Thousands more Barbadians are now aware of these BLOG sites !
And we shall use it to the HILT !
But let’s REASON :
* Did BFP & BU create the MESS at UDC ?
* DID BFP & BU create the MESS at GEMS ?
* DID BFP & BU create the MESS with the new
PRISON ?
* DID BFP & BU create the MESS with the T & T
fishing AGREEMENT ?
* DID BFP & BU create the MESS with the ABC
ROAD WORKS ?
* Did BFP & BU create the MESS at
GREENLAND ?
So millions of taxpayers $$$$$$$ squandered by this BLP administration and they do not want to be ACCOUNTABLE or TRANSPARENT !
Richard Hoad’s ” Lowdown ” column in the Weekend Nation of 5 th October 2007……..is a must READ .
Phoenix // Oct 5th 2007 at 4:44 pm
David Thompson confronted Owen Arthur on the floor of Parliament about a $ 750,000.00 cheque lying in his personal Bank account !
Owen Arthur’s response…..?
Ah ??? UM ?????
Then he STAMMERED……SWEATED….FARTED……!
We Bajans believe David Thompson because we saw Owen Arthur’s response on TV !
Let Owen & Clyde Asscoll wait pun the next BOMB…….Hardwood Inc. !
Lodge Road // Oct 7th 2007 at 3:43 pm
How amazing you BLP crooks can come and try to defend “Hardwood Housing” BUT CAN NOT defend the FLYOVERS (3S); the new Prison (VECO), GEMS, Greenland, GAIA, and the list go on and on but want to come and defend Hardwood Housing give me a blasted brake cause am voting you all out can get my vote for a 4th TIME.
When you all explain to me in a public setting about all of the above that BFP, and BU has been brining to my attention and my family’s then will will all vote for you all again until them am going to see to it that none of us vote BLP again.
Anonymous // Oct 8th 2007 at 11:09 am
I know David Thompson. I went to U.W.I and to Law School with David Thompson; Say what you may about David Thompson, one thing HE IS NOT, is dishonest.
We had a multitude of disagreements over the five years we schooled together, but never once was there any remote suggestion of anything dishonest about or coming from David Thompson, never. Even when I would tease him about his name, ” Tomsson” he NEVER would lower himself to dishonesty or any other vile manner.
He is a good person and I know that he always has the interests of ALL Barbadians at heart. Always without fail.
PS. I am not a Barbadian and I do not live. work or travel to barbados, so I have no axe to grind with or for anyone.
October 8, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Seeing that Tony Hoyos is involved with so many ventures maybe he is behind BFP OR BU.
October 8, 2007 at 1:46 pm
Did I imagine it or did I hear the Chairman of Hardwood Housing Factory Inc, Anthony Hoyos, a couple of days ago state that they have not acquired any land?
See ‘Housing project set to get off ground’ by Trevor Yearwood 9th July 2007, Nation.
‘He (Anthony Murrell, the CEO) ‘told the Daily Nation the company had acquired several acres of land in Christ Church and St. Peter’.
So the company has acquired ’several acres’.
Who has provided the finance for this land purchase, the EGFL or who?
Because it certainly did not show up in the figures supplied in the Albert Brandford article in yesterday’s Sunday Sun.
The dictionary definition of several is more than two.
So lets say three acres at $10 a square foot.
Thats $1.29 million, so will a stated company capitalisation of $1 million, someone has to explain.
October 8, 2007 at 1:49 pm
Here we go again Albert Brandford trying to demonise David Thompson. Is Brandford capable of writing on any other subject besides Thompson? Is he being paid by Mascoll and Owen to do so? Ms. Gittens who running the Nation? The BLP like its the publisher of the Nation, not you.. Brandford should take a leaf out of Richard Hoad’s book. Hoad is a giant compared to the blp/mascoll lackey Branford.
October 8, 2007 at 2:04 pm
While Owing maybe not seriously paying attention to this matter or the others of the cost overruns by three times the value at the PRISON ( soon to accomodate he and others of his cabinet) or the fraud of 3 S and DANOS or the tripling of the road works project, we the taxpayers are most certainly paying it a great deal of attention.
It appears to me that the wheels have fallen off this wagon but no one knows where to start looking for them or how to repair the ill fated wagon.
Let me tell you Owing that merely stating that your ministers know what you expect from them is very open to manipulation and abuse because by stating this if they were to take your example as one to operate by, these projects each and everyone of them will come in at five or six times overbudget and not three as is presently happening, your example is not a clean and healthy one from which to guide, remember your are still t9o explain about your hand being stuck in the cookie jar with that cheque for $ 750,000.00 which Marino Browne and David Shorey paid to you????
We still await your report on Resorts and Hotels ltd, this is GEM of a con created by you and Shorey to rob the taxpayers of this island by once again.
October 8, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Adrian This political hopscotch, Hoyos is sitting on the board of the EGFL and he is arranging funds to be directed to Hardwood Holdings a company that he sits on the board of, did anyone else know up to yesterday report that the Gov’t (or is it the EGFL) is an owner of Hardwood Holdings I certainly did not know this did you ???
then we have the comedy of words with Owing saying his ministers knows what he expects from them, Surely he does not profess to be an example as this example must be one of the worst and most dishonest examples available to them, he alone can attest to being a very large receiver of these funds that have been scammed from these projects how how can he appear so saintly this is is and actor at work.
Is there an Oscar for the best con artist and thug and crook and thief if so he has no equal in this field.
October 8, 2007 at 2:49 pm
Owen Arthur never ceases to amaze Barbadians…….especially when he is DRUNK !
Does David Thompson need to invoke the Public Accounts Committee to find out about the
$ 750,000.00 cheque that was lying in Owen Arthur’s personal bank account ?
Does David Thompson need to invoke the the Public Accounts Committee to get Owen Arthur to support Integrity Legislation ?
Owen……your slip is SHOWING !
October 8, 2007 at 3:33 pm
I found The PM’s comments (His Ministers know where he stands) to be most amusing as someone who is intimately aware of the crookery of at least 2 BLP politicians.
I would like to see the tax returns of both Noel Lynch (2000-2006) and Clyde Mascoll (2005-2006) please Mr. Prime Minister
October 8, 2007 at 4:13 pm
It is with a deep sense of sadness that I am forced to report to Barbadians that this morning as many of you are rising to go about your lawful duty senior public officers are grappling with the disturbing news of a plan to damage the boiler at the QEH and further to have a harmful chemical placed in the air-condition unit.
I am asking all Barbadians to be on the alert. A desperate bid for political power is one thing but when you are prepared to risk the lives of so many innocent people to get it then it becomes a matter that should engage the attention of every law abiding citizen.
October 8, 2007 at 6:05 pm
Interesting presentation !
http://www.cpahq.org/uploadedFiles/Programmes_and_Activities/Professional_Development/DP%2014.doc
October 8, 2007 at 6:07 pm
BFP
When are you bringing out your next print edition??
Don’t you think it’s time???
October 8, 2007 at 6:37 pm
The Albert Brandford story was filled with inaccurate bits and pieces of trivia, let me first point out that the EGFL did not invest $ 1 million as he tries to report the figure is $ 2 million a blatant lie to the tune of only $ 1 million dollars to the benefit of his pals in the ruling party, while on the subject it is the single largest vote of money to any company since the formation of the EGFL, do you feel that it had anything to do with the HOYOS being a director of both boards impacting on this process, or the Mascoll involvement as a minister and owner, or is it a more sinister plan to rape us even harder.
October 9, 2007 at 2:06 am
Don’t people understand that it is normal business practice that if a company takes an equity stake in another of the amount noted in the comments that the investing company would want a seat on the Board
October 9, 2007 at 4:50 am
Royalrumble,
What evidence do you have that this incident is politically motivated? How do we know that someone in your party is trying to create some distraction to the real life threatening issues that need to be discussed.
The morale is so low at the hospital that it is capable of breeding some very sick minds….imagine people not getting paid for months and living with the threat of having their house repossessed, not being able to feed their children while BLP Politicians continue to thief the money and give contracts to persons like Owen’s brother?
October 9, 2007 at 4:56 am
anon
Who are the directors in Hardwood?
Who are the directors of EGF?
Which director on Hardwood’s board epresents EGF’s interest?
October 9, 2007 at 4:57 am
Owen will fool some of the people some of the time. He knows full well what Thompson’s limitations are in relation to this matter.Owen is responsible for the development of a hostile group of people never before seen in this country. Just look at the nasty and voilent comments posted on this blog by BLP Supporters? They are so desparate and ignorant that they are incaple of recognising evil when it is steering them full in the face. This elections will be one of the most voilent in the history of Barbados.
October 9, 2007 at 5:09 am
BFP,
Good night.
You can go ahead and remove your moderation shields.
We won’t be attacking you tonight or any time during the day (Tuesday 9th October).
Take care.
Regards.
B`’F`’P`’E
October 9, 2007 at 5:11 am
Royalrumble
October 8th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
It is with a deep sense of sadness that I am forced to report to Barbadians that this morning as many of you are rising to go about your lawful duty senior public officers are grappling with the disturbing news of a plan to damage the boiler at the QEH and further to have a harmful chemical placed in the air-condition unit.
I am asking all Barbadians to be on the alert. A desperate bid for political power is one thing but when you are prepared to risk the lives of so many innocent people to get it then it becomes a matter that should engage the attention of every law abiding citizen.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Shortly after the Reichstag was burnt to the ground in 1933, “The Enabling Act (Ermächtigungsgesetz in German) was passed by Germany’s parliament (the Reichstag) on March 23, 1933 and signed by President Paul von Hindenburg the same day.
It was the second major step after the Reichstag Fire Decree through which the democratically-elected Nazis obtained dictatorial powers using largely legal means.
The Act enabled Chancellor Adolf Hitler and his cabinet to enact laws without the participation of the Reichstag…”
Some writers also liken this event to the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security in the US after 9/11.
RR
Do you think we might need such a department?
I am of course being facetious but an allegation such as you make is unthinkable in Barbados.
I sincerely hope you are wrong.
October 9, 2007 at 6:54 am
BFP Nationnews trying to “steal your thunder” or just proving you right.
PART OF THE DESIGN of the ABC Highway expansion project by 3S Structural Solutions LLC could cause serious accidents, says the Barbados Association of Professional Engineers (BAPE).
http://www.nationnews.com/story/292574607605797.php
October 9, 2007 at 10:29 am
The DLP gave free reign to the Public Accounts Committee, however, the DLP has been encountering numerous problems when a meeting is called.
There is endless filibustering that Owen’s perverts indulge in which has been frustrating the efforts to have a meaningful investifgation . The BLP representatives attend and waste so much time; quering the minutes;dealing with procedure and generally drawing out the proceedings. This results in hampering the investigations.
Let Owen or Maaaassscoll deny this!
The truth will never be obtained this way; but the DLP has the trump card, Owen.
Call the election and “you will see the ball that shoot Nelson”!!!
October 9, 2007 at 10:51 am
“Adrian This political hopscotch, Hoyos is sitting on the board of the EGFL and he is arranging funds to be directed to Hardwood Holdings a company that he sits on the board of, did anyone else know up to yesterday report that the Gov’t (or is it the EGFL) is an owner of Hardwood Holdings I certainly did not know this did you ??”
Somebody, (perhaps BFP??) has a duty to correct the ignorance demonstrated in this comment, but perhaps the innuendo contained serves the general purpose.
October 9, 2007 at 12:29 pm
Anon X, I still question if they are really BLP supporters we make assumptions on this but it is not logical because of the obvious backlash.
October 9, 2007 at 12:47 pm
John it is a TONY HOYOS
October 9, 2007 at 1:23 pm
Inkwell…
No! I certainly did not and I suspect the vast majority of Barbadians didn’t know either.
From the EGFL website there are only two sources of funding that Hardwood Housing Factory Inc, could access under their own (EGFL) rules.
The largest fund has a limit of BDS$1.5 million.
Mr Murrell stated in the Nation on 9 July 2007 ‘that the company had acquired several acres of land in Christ Church and St. Peter’.
Note the wording carefully ‘HAD ACQUIRED’.
On October 7th October the same Nation writer, Trevor Yearwood, carried a story under the headline ‘Check Mascoll’ which quoted Anthony Hoyos, the chairman of Hardwood Housing Factory Inc, stating ‘That is not the case. No land has been given to us’.
So is this the Chairman not knowing what the CEO is doing and how the monies are being spent.
Under the working capital and other monies advanced by Government (EGFL) there does not appear to be sufficent to ‘acquire several acres’, so the question remains HOW was this land ‘acquired’?
October 9, 2007 at 1:24 pm
Does HOYOS not sit on both boards?
And did he not oversee the loan from EGFL to his company Hardwood Holdings ?
And Is not the EGFL and gov’t not shareholders in Hardwood Holdings?
What is your issue then ?
You are willing away the facts of this case that has corruption written all over it.
October 9, 2007 at 4:01 pm
How was Hardwood able to obtain 90% financing when EGFL via its own policies limits its holding in private companies to 49%?
Now assuming that the place down Fontabelle that prints on newsprint got it wrong again and really EGFL only hold 49%, then the remainder of that salacious sum must have been some sort of debt. Then how was this debt secured? or was Mascot sorry Mascoll able to obtain this unsecured as a thank you favour from Mr. PM.
Here I was thinking that Mascot gine get some hot lashes in de election little did I know that he also got a cell in de new prison wid he name on it!
October 9, 2007 at 4:07 pm
I do not have any allegiance with any of the political parties. I am not protecting any party or politician who tries to fool the populace of Barbados. Now, let us look at Hardwood Housing Factory Inc. They might be a possibility of questionable actions by the company, but should it merit the full attention of the loyal opposition when two other questionable projects with millions of dollars and heads of these companies under investigation. It is known that contracts over $100,000.00 should go to tender, we know as a fact that the highway never went to tender. We know that a company contracted to perform such a major task should have posted a bond for litigation. This company annual income is less than ½ million. These are the problems that the opposition leader should be concentrating with, and not a simple matter like Hardwood Housing Factory Inc that the Accountant General offices can deal with.
Let the loyal opposition speak about the directors, legal councils, consultants and politicians associated with these two major projects and let the people know findings.
Mr Thompson, if by your statement of Mr. Mascoll’s connection with the said company; I hope that the said Mr. Mascoll would tell the nation if it is true or not. This is all I am asking of our politicians.
October 9, 2007 at 5:23 pm
Adrian,
It is my understanding that they have traced the idenity of the abusive IP address at Cable and Wireless and it was traced to a location in St.Michael.
I would suggest an email or call to Elon Richards at C & W at 2926130 as he has the information at his disposal.
October 9, 2007 at 9:25 pm
I like it. Good for the Opposition Leader. I now feel like there is at least one fearless politician:
ANSWER, PM!
Published on: 10/9/07 in the Nation.
by MARIA BRADSHAW
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS, Mr Prime Minister!
That is Opposition Leader David Thompson’s challenge to Prime Minister Owen Arthur, regarding the questions the former raised about the operations of Hardwood Housing Factory Inc.
On Sunday, Arthur broke his silence on the issue at the launch of the Barbados Labour Party’s Christ Church East Central constituency office. He called on Thompson as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) “to probe any financial irregularities, instead of asking Government to probe them”.
However, Thompson responded yesterday by stating it was Arthur who should account for the happenings at the Six Roads, St Philip, business.
Idle chatter
“The era of prime ministers engaging in idle chatter on matters relating to public accountability, integrity and honesty in Government at constituency branch offices in front of rent-a-crowd supporters is over. Barbadians are demanding answers to serious issues and one of them is the formation of Hardwood Housing Factory Inc,” Thompson charged.
He added: “I have asked Owen Arthur some questions and he must answer them instead of casting aspersions on the Public Accounts Committee which includes some of his most senior ministers.
Thompson explained that the PAC could only inquire into entities for which financial statements had been laid in Parliament, pointing out that none had been laid for Hardwood Factory.
No power
“No financials have been laid by any minister for Hardwood Housing Factory Inc. and the committee has no power in that regard. Owen Arthur must stop hiding behind weak parliamentary oversight and get to the issues I have raised if he has an interest in rooting out corruption and fixing problems.
“Two million [dollars] has been given to this company by the Enterprise Growth Fund Limited which is a fund set up by the Government with taxpayers’ money, and the cavalier way in which Owen Arthur wishes to deal with this matter does not cut it with me,” he said.
“Grossly misleading”
The Opposition Leader also criticised an article written by journalist Albert Brandford in the last SUNDAY SUN about the issue, calling it “grossly misleading”.
He charged: “The corporate records of Hardwood Housing Factory Inc. as filed in the Corporate Registry do not disclose the shareholding of Hardwood. In fact, there is no requirement under Barbados law for what I call private companies to file a list of their shareholders. Who knew before October 7, 2007, that Hardwood was “Government-owned”?
“Furthermore, the ‘indicative terms sheet’ to which Mr Brandford referred as showing that Government had given the company working capital is not a public document, nor has it been made one by the Government and it was not filed in the Corporate Registry either.”
He said he was appalled that officials of the company, particularly its chairman, would state that the company had not been given any land when “a Mr Anthony Murrell”, the chief executive officer of Hardwood, stated in THE NATION in July 2007 that the company had acquired several acres of land in St Peter and Christ Church.
“How was this land acquired?” Thompson asked, while disclosing that Arthur and Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance Clyde Mascoll were both intimately aware of arrangements for a project at Four Hill, St Peter, and projects in other areas which they had directly facilitated.
October 10, 2007 at 2:11 pm
I like it also Leviticus. Thompson at his cutting edge best. Your turn Owen. The box trick on television flopped. He should fire Al or Ricardo,Mascoll whoever gave him the stunt. Thompson comes across as a fearless leader in this clash. He sounds as if he cant be bought or frightened. Game on.
October 11, 2007 at 9:27 am
Again in the ‘Response to Opposition Leader’s letter’ Mr Mascoll leaves more questions than answers.
‘In fact there is no requirement under the Barbados Law for what I call Private Companies to file a list of their shareholders’.
So clearly, Albert Brandford could not have have obtained this information from the file at the CAIPO because it wasn’t there.
What did the EGFL exceed their own funding criteria (more than $1.5 million)?
‘I was informed that Mr Anthony Murrell is the owner of vehicles and equipment which are leased to the company, resulting in a saving of approximately $44,000 per month’.
A ’saving of $44,000 per MONTH’.
Just what sort of vehicles and equipment, Mr Mascoll to save this rather large figure?
Surely, a new start-up company with cashflow problems would not be leasing BMW’s or Mercedes?
‘The company’s mandate is to build houses for individuals’.
‘your allegation that its equipment, materials, labour and funds are being used for construction
of a commercial building is false’.
Now Mr Mascall, the equipment is owned by Mr Murrel, but leased to HHF Inc, who pays the monthly charges.
So Mr Thompson’s statement, True or False?
The ‘mandate is to build houses for individuals’, so why is it building four or five sports pavillions?
‘The chairman of the company has already responded to the allegation of the company being given access to considerable areas of land’.
So why would Mr Murrell tell the Daily Nation on 9th July 2007 ‘the company HAD acquired several acres of land in Christ Church and St. Peter’?
Mr Murrell added ‘We have about 440 lots in prospect and by this time next year our target is to build 400 houses’.
‘To date 15 houses were built’ since the formation of the company in November 2006.
385 still be be built over the next 9 months if this target is to be met.
15 completed houses with an investment of $2 million.
October 11, 2007 at 3:18 pm
Strange Timing Of A Hardwood Homes Story In The Nation News – And A Question For Minister Clyde Mascoll !
Strange timing indeed…….ASSCOLL…….if you were intimately involved in setting up a project…….why would you have to wait on your BOSS to INSTRUCT you to respond to a project your were intimately involved in ?????
Strange timing indeed…….ASSCOLL……..why did you have to wait on the opposition leader to raise the RED FLAG about cost – over runs……..if you were really as TRANSPARENT & ACCOUNTABLE to the Barbadian taxpayers ?????
Strange timing indeed…….ASSCOLL…….why do you now speak of HARDWOOD Inc. tendering and winning 4 bids to build pavilions…..when only in the Sunday Sun of 2007 – 10 – 07 on page 3A, the Chairman, Anthony Hoyos of HARDWOOD Inc. told Barbadians ” As for the charge of not tendering for Government projects , he stated that the company did not set the rules, but had to negotiate prices with Government ” ??????
Barbadians are waiting with bated breath…….to see if the ASSCOLL………involved in this HARDWOOD Inc. project is the same one that Owen Arthur told Barbadians through the Parliament……that he has a DOSSIER on this individual ready for the DPP’s attention !.
October 11, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Adrian L
In fact there is no requirement under the Barbados Law for what I call Private Companies to file a list of their shareholders’.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Are you sure?
I understand quite the opposite!!
October 11, 2007 at 4:08 pm
John…
I inspected the of HHF Inc (reg # 27882) at the CAPIO office on the 7th October 2007. Receipt # 366569 and the details of the shareholders were NOT in the file.
Neither was there any indication that it was a 90% Government owned company (EGFL).
If these details were added after 7th october 2007, that I cannot say.
October 12, 2007 at 1:06 am
I think the absence of returns means that the company HHF Inc. is in breach of the companies act of Barbados.
There are other companies which make returns, admittedly not all. The squeaky clean ones do. These also file their audited financial statements if their sales and or assets are above a certain figure.
The absence of audited financial statements at corporate affairs for a company like, say Gems, if its assets or revenue are beyond a figure, I believe this is $1 million, is a breach of the laws of Barbados.
My information that companies are required to file returns of their shareholders comes from an attorney at law.
It also comes from seeing the attorney at law for one company respond to another attorney at law who wrote the registered office and asked for the names of the shareholders.
I know the companies act changed to require companies to register their shareholders at corporate affairs but I also know there are some companies who do not and will not respond to a perfectly legal request for their shareholders.
I have also seen this happen where a legitimate request from an attorney at law was ignored by another attorney at law.
So I think if you have researched the file for HHF Inc. in Corporate Affairs and cannot find a returm of its shareholders, then to my way of thinking, HHF Inc. is in breach of the laws of Barbados.
A letter to the registered office of HHF Inc. requesting the names of shareholders should be met by a response with those names.
The old companies act (1910) required the returns on shareholders but when it was changed, (c.1982) this requirement was taken out.
I believe the change back to the requirement occurred in the late 90s or early 2000s.
Many people are unaware and do not make these returns, but strictly speaking I believe they are in breach of the laws of Barbados.
October 12, 2007 at 2:34 am
Letter to the Prime Minister
Published on: 10/7/07.
The following letter was delivered to Prime Minister Owen Arthur’s office at Government Headquarters on Bay Street on Friday. Leader of the Opposition David Thompson made references to it yesterday.
Dear Prime Minister,
I AM WRITING to draw your attention, should you not be aware, to a matter of great concern to the public and to right-thinking Barbadians relative to a company registered in Barbados as Hardwood Housing Inc. (“the company”)
As a result of numerous requests and my analysis of the documentary information given to me, I am requesting your intervention to respond to the following matters:
Within one year of the company’s operations an investment has been made by Government through the Enterprise Growth Fund Limited by way of $2 million cash initially made up in working capital.
Out of this sum and financing made available by a local banking institution, equipment, including vehicles and construction equipment has been purchased in the name of an individual associated with the organisation in his name and is being leased back by way of a substantial monthly payment to him by the company.
There is an additional overdraft facility granted to the company by a banking institution. Despite this financing facilitated by Government, the company’s current cash-flow position is critical.
Until the end of August, 2007, the company has issued over $30 000 in returned and unsatisfied cheques to 19 suppliers and a department of Government. The inability of the company to meet payments to its creditors would be, one assumes, in breach of the terms of the investment by Enterprise Growth Fund Limited and certainly would be a blow to the integrity of that institution.
Despite this cash investment by the Government of Barbados through the Enterprise Growth Fund Limited, the company has only completed seven houses under a contract awarded by the Urban Development Commission. The site preparation and foundations for these properties led to cost overruns. The said site preparation alone for these seven low-income houses which contributed to the cost over-runs was $248 000.
The company is currently undertaking private projects and its equipment, materials and labour are being used for the construction of a commercial building and other private residences out of the funds provided for it by the investment by Government for the development of low-income housing projects.
The company has in its employ several non-Barbadians who are not in possession of immigration status which would permit the company to employ them under our laws. There is also a differential being paid by the company to and in favour of these non-nationals over the Barbadians it also employs in the same class of employment.
This company has been given access to considerable areas of land throughout Barbados owned by Government and privately – but facilitated by Government – to undertake housing development against the background of no previous experience or track-record in house construction, without tendering procedures being observed and in a very cavalier manner.
The company has breached several labour standards including the provisions of the Factories Act in respect of its operations in Six Roads, St Philip, and the usual labour practices which the workers representatives, under the able guidance of the Barbados Workers’ Union, have identified.
Finally, although sub judice, you ought to be aware that it is already public knowledge that a senior operative in the company has been charged with serious criminal offences in relation to female staff and former members of staff.
I have read and heard the comments over time of the role that Hardwood Housing Inc. will be playing in Government’s housing policy. In that regard many of the matters that I have itemised above are within the knowledge of the Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and my information reveals his active and, in my view inappropriate, participation in many of the decisions made to facilitate the work of this company and in its day-to-day operations.
I am sure you will agree with me that many of our citizens are justifiably concerned about the matters raised above in relation to the operations of this company which has been overly favoured with Government support. They are curious to know whether this conforms to your Government’s policy or whether you are inclined to respond matters raised above.
I am requesting that you commission a full-scale independent investigation of this company and any minister or senior official or the Government in relation to it to be undertaken by a competent forensic investigator to be agreed to by me as Leader of the Opposition and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.
Yours faithfully,
David J.H. Thompson, MP
October 12, 2007 at 8:58 am
John…
If you are right, then havn’t Hotels and Resorts Ltd been breaking the law for years?
Something is clearly not right with Hardwood Housing Factory Inc, and the opposition clearly has a right to demand answers.
Someone is lying, either the Chairman or the CEO in their utterings to the press.
The land either HAS been acquired or NOT!
And if as the CEO stated it HAD been acquired, who paid for it?
If the land has been acquired, why have only 15 houses been constructed and why is the company entering into commercial contruction (sports pavillions) when that is not their stated mission?
Mr Mascoll has again chosen to dodge these questions. If the PM wants transparency, then they have to be answered.
Its OK for the PM’s former Press Secretary, Sylvan Greenidge to call in yesterday to Down to Brass Tacks, but sadly Tony Marshall, let him get away completely with one of his rebuttals.
Mr Greenidge chose to bring up the $44,000 figure quoted by Mr Mascoll as being the savings made to the company by leasing Mr Murrell equipment.
What Mr Greenidge selectively omitted to mention was that the savings made were supposed to be $44,000 per MONTH.
In that case Mr Mascoll should explain what the capital value of this equipment is, the duration of the lease, any balloon or secondary payments and what interest rate is the lease term based on.
October 12, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Seeing that you and your party have such a love for BPF and BU I thought it worthwhile that I should send you a few messages orginating from these sites if for no other reason to show you that there is nothing as sickening as you attempt to smear the BFP and BU.
Your quote as below is really quite an amazing one when thousands of Barbadians are crying out for you and your party to level with the ones you are stealing from we the taxpayers of this land, and explain to us your obviously tainted relationships with VECO, 3S , Danos, Hardwwod Holdings, The Baths, The Greenland Land fill, The NHC building in Warrens, the stories that people that know nothing about building are being awarded works contacts case in point Slimy Craig,the issue of the cheque from MARIANO BROWN while he was at CCB while DAVID SHOREY WAS PRESIDENT of this same bank why this cheque for $ 750,000.00 made its way to your personal bank account.
The new lows for which Thompson is now being forced can be seen on the Barbados Free Press and the Barbados Underground on a daily basis. The manner in which DLP operatives uses these two blogs to malign this country in the international arena everyday while purporting to be Barbadians suggest a serious character flaw.
You see you bastards, the people are no longer being fooled by your fireworks displays and song and dance, we the people are getting a much clearer picture day by day as to the true extent of your corruption and dishonesty and all the smokescreens in the world will not stop us from continuing to expose you and your lot for what you are nothing but a gang of crooks.
The ball is in the Prime Ministers court to deal with and expose the matters of corruption within his gov’t failing to do will lead us to believe that he to is implicated in this corruption and dishonesty, and if this is the case he too ought to be fired and disposed of as Prime Minister.
The Leader of the Opposition has done a wonderful job in bringing to light the methods of operation in cases like HARDWOOD HOLDINGS it is now up to the Prime Minister to follow thru and resolve these pressing issues the Leader of HM Loyal Opposition can go no further in his quest for honesty as this company has not yet lodged audited accounts that will allow the PAC to examine them , this is also so amazing that PM knows that Mr Thompson can go no further in his role as Chairman of the PAC and any further inquiry is at the mercy of he the PM but once again he attempts to fool honest Barbadians that the ball is in Mr Thompson’s court.
What a sad place we live in that our leaders will do major business with two companies with proven intent to corrupt and bribe politicians both of which are now or recently been charged before courts for fraud, bribery and corruption but yet the Prime Minister and compant set them up for two of the largest contract ever awarded for any project in Barbados and low had behold they triple the budgeted price to rape us the taxpayers by three times the original quote and they tell us not to worry just bend over and continue to take it, we owe the a debt of gratitude for skilfully shafting us while telling us enoy the hurt while we pocket the cash of our hurt.
PS This will be blogged both on BFP and BU just for your information the two real news sources on this island!!!!!!
October 12, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Adrian L.
I heard Clyde Mascoll say there are no requirements to file a return of shareholders at the corporate registry. I heard him on TV last night.
I am no lawyer but I am going to see if I can find the actual text in the change to the companies act, cap 308. It may take me some time unless I am lucky.
Maybe I am wrong, but I have experience of an attorney at law telling me the law had changed and writing for the information on shareholders when it was not filed.
I did not imagine that.
With respect to the filing of audited financial reports at the registry, I know this is required and I know the registrar has been after companies to make the statutory declarations.
Sometimes letters from the registrar to the company to make things right appear in these files.
I have seen in the CAIPO files for some companies an affidavit from an officer saying the income and assets have been less than the required ceiling for filing.
In other files of other companies I have seen audited financials filed.
It makes sense for a company above a certain size to file its returns. Firstly, it allows anybody to keep an eye on its performance and secondly it allows the company to advertise how well it is managed and how attractive it might be for an investment by new shareholders.
If it is a large employer of labour, the Union can look at its profitability and wage bill before it makes requests for raises.
I agree that Hotels and Resorts have been in breach of the act for not filing returns ……. and it doesn’t seem to mind one little bit!!
The directors are basically telling us in those immortal words of old … “you could like it, … you could lump it, … none of you ain’t brekking up my night rest”!!
October 12, 2007 at 3:01 pm
…. if the Registrar has been diligent with Hotels and Resorts, you should find numerous requests to the company to make the returns of its audited financial statements filed in its corporate filed.
October 12, 2007 at 4:33 pm
John…. Thanks.
The PM has chastised the Chairman of the PAC for not using that organision to investigate Hardwood Housing Factory Inc.
But I have also heard that the PAC can only investigate companies that have laid their audited accounts in Parliament.
As HHF Inc, was only registered on 2 November 2006, it is unlikely they have filed accounts yet, so does this mean that the PAC cannot yet investigate them?
October 13, 2007 at 1:42 am
Adrian L.
I have no idea what the PAC can or can’t do.
I have never seen it actually do anything.
Maybe it did while I was not watching but it sure would be good to watch it do something than to hear about the things it cannot do.
I am not even sure of its composition although much was made of the change of the law at the time.
The PAC needs to ACT. Maybe its hands are tied in this particular situation but it needs to get a higher profile than it currently has through its ACTS on behalf of the people of Barbados.
HHF INC would have chosen a financial period, perhaps November to October on which it would report.
It may on the other hand have chosen a period like Government of April to March.
The completion or non completion of accounts would depend on the period it chose.
If it was following Government, audited financials might be due for a while, but on at most 5 months, November to March of operation.
I am not an accountant and do not know the reporting period of the company.
I think the financial period would be declared when it was being formed by its subscribers and should be on file at CAIPO as CAIPO would have been the body to whom the subscribers of the company applied to form the company.
The subscribers would have had at least to inform Inland Revenue of the financial period so the company could be given a tax number so there must be a record somewhere.
It is distinctly possible that audited financials are overdue.
It depends on the reporting period.
October 13, 2007 at 5:24 pm
[...] Party has been slowly creating momentum and they have gathered some steam with the breaking of the Hardwood story. We think that they should be doing the same concerning the mismanagement of the flyover [...]
October 14, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Once again Albert Brandford choses to be highly selective over his observations regarding Hardwood Housing Factory Inc, in todays comment page 11a Sunday Sun.
No apology or explanion for deliberately misleading the public last week when he claimed that the details of the shareholders and Government ownership was in the HHF inc, file at the CAIPO.
It wasn’t of course, I inspected the file on 1 st October 2007.
And he accuses ‘What little research Thompson appears to have done’.
And today, he skips over the land issue as stated in Mr Brandford’s own newspaper 9th July 2007 where CEO, Mr Anthony Murrell stated that HHF Inc, HAD acquired land in St. Peter and Christ Church.
Plus Mr Mascoll’s claim that HHF inc, was saving $44,000 A MONTH by leasing back Mr Murrell’s equipment.
Mr Brandford, do your profession the credit it deserves, please tell the whole story or none of it at all!
October 15, 2007 at 9:47 am
[...] Strange Timing Of A Hardwood Homes Story In The Nation News – And A Question For Minister Clyde Masc… [...]
October 15, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Do any of you remember, around the time of launching Hardwood floors Mascoll was on television saying something to the effect to Barbadians who may be interested in purchasing one of these house to don’t come with no promise to pay, come with cash only? Can anyone remember this and what date he might have said it? It was offensive to me then and i might have saved it but not catalog it and therefore would take a very long time to find it. I just thought that since Hardwood floors is building all manner of things except houses for lower income bajans that it was said to be doing that this comment would demonstrate the real intent that is now being justified.
October 15, 2007 at 6:47 pm
I work at hardwood housing and everything that David Thompson wrote is true true,workers are treated like garbage,because as murell says he has a big boy backing him.
help us Mr.Prime Minister remember you are the leader of this country,i commend Mr Thompson for speaking out against the injustices that bajan workers are faced with daily.
October 15, 2007 at 7:30 pm
GEMINI
I extend my sympathy to you and the staff of Hardwood Holdings it must be hard to work within that corrupt company.
October 15, 2007 at 7:39 pm
I am hearing that the press conference just concluded and Mascoll’s wife told them that she did not want anyone from HARDWOOD HOLDINGS working on her property but Mascoll brought these HARDWOOD WORKERS in to do the work, but of course if the work is free I have no doubt that they were welcomed with open arms.
Reports reaching me state that the meeting did not go well for Mascoll and Hardwood Holdings, he received some surprises during the meeting that seemed to stun him.
I will report if and when I manage to speak to my contact again.
October 15, 2007 at 7:43 pm
Anyone know what Mascoll said at today’s scheduled Press Conference?
Or has he run out of lame excuses? …. or run out of the conference?
October 15, 2007 at 8:23 pm
This is neither Trivia or Gossip……..as reported on the BLP Blog !
I just left the press conference……..BLP snipers answer me this :
** Why did Mascoll wife tell us journalist that she never wanted personnel from Hardwood Houses working on her property ?
** Why did she say it was CLYDE MASCOLL that insisted that Hardwood personnel work on her property ?
** So if Mascoll is not involved in this Hardwood Company…..why it was him and NOT Anthony Murrell who brought them to Cyralene Mascoll’s property ?
October 18, 2007 at 12:20 pm
Here we have Tony Hoyos sitting on the board of the Lender EGFL while sitting on the board of HARDWOOD HOLDINGS the borrower and overseas this scam but yet not a single question is asked of him , why should this be the case ?
Well more than likely because Tony Hoyos has been installed by Owing Arthur to do a job for him and to filter the money back to him in this rip off, remember Tony Hoyos is very closely associated with Colin Brewer another scamp let us not forget his rein at GAIA where he arranged for the duty free shops to be run by a company that he is involved in, at the serious cost overruns at this same project leaves you to ask why is the connection so close among this lot of gangsters !!!
The truth is they all should be investigated and sent to prison for their role in filtering these funds out of taxpayers accounts to the accounts of a chosen few.
Tony Hoyos as chairman should be the first to be fired but lets watch the actions of the PM will he take action my guess is that he will not due to the fact that everyone is aware of his scams and how he operates therefore he is unable to do anything to correct these worngs in society.
In a nut shell they all know Arthur to be a dishonest crook and he cannot threaten anyone with prison because he to could be an excellent candidate to be an inmate.
October 18, 2007 at 2:07 pm
An interesting story in the Jamaican Gleaner , read link below,
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20071018T010000-0500_128450_OBS_WORK_PERMIT_CLAMPDOWN.asp
In light of the on – going saga about undocumented workers/ illegal immigrants in BARBADOS…….EXAMPLES ??? :
** Constant deportation of Guyanese and other undocumented workers !
** Chinese labourers working at the 4 Seasons Resort !
** Asscoll denial of undocumented workers at HARDWOOD Inc……..yet the CEO Anthony Murrell told Barbadians…..YES undocumented workers employed at HARDWOOD Inc. !
For the sake of TRANSPARENCY , ETHICS & ACCOUNTABILTY in government……..are Barbadians asking too much of…. Owen Arthur…Joseph Atherley & Asscoll……..to follow the lead of their Jamaican government colleagues……..?
Ooooops……I almost forgot those now undocumented workers are the ones…….to vote these BLP pimps back into POWER shortly !
What a SHAME…….!
October 18, 2007 at 4:01 pm
As was posted on the BLP website trust you will give me room to post on yours as well.
WOW this site is almost as hot as BFP and BU.
I never thought that I would have seen views that are so anti gov’t on this site as they are.
Is this just me being silly or are these cries indicative of the real issues in our island?
What about this talk about corruption and dishonesty in Gov’t it seems to have some grounds for discussion as there seems to be a massive amount of money being overspent in every project that this gov’t has undertaken in the last five years each one seems to have suffered the same fate money being thrown at it with simply no accounting for these mega funding.
Is there any truth to this story making the rounds that you Mr Arthur , Nicholls and Bannister held the countries builders to ransom by requesting a 7 % commission to be paid to you all for the awarding of the contract? I have this on good authority of a lawyer that this is the case if so you should all be ashamed of yourselves.
This Road works contract why have you chosen to award it to a proven and known crook in ythe form of DANOS it is not a doubt but rather a know fact that he is guilty of fraud in operations in Jamaica in something called the Jamaica Kickback Agreement do we have a BARBADOS KICKBACK AGREEMENT in place here as well for you three to benefit from Mr Arthur?
Why in both these massively awarded contracts are two companies that are before the law courcts in the two countries of their birth for charges ranging from corruption, fraud and bribery things that are all to familiar to you Mr Arthur and your gang of goons.
Wealso understand that the West Coast Sewage Treatment project is held up because of yet another request for yet another commission payment to You Mr Arthur , Bannister and Nicholls should this be the case it is a disgrace to the Barbadian people to have work being delayed while you all fight for commissions.
On the subject of fighting Mr Arthur please ease up on Mottley before you drive into another biting frenzy, you really already scorned her by saying that ASSCOLL is behind you in the pecking order, if Mottley had an ounce of sense or decency she would put you out to dry and let you see how much help ASSCOLL would be to you, once she put you out to dry I would sit out the next election and return as leader of the BLP in your absence and lead the party to victory single handed.
On the subject of ASSCOLL funny things are obviously taking place at HARDWOOD HOLDINGS and you seem powerless to do anything about them does this have anything to do with your own involvement and your own level of corruption ?
We shall await your statement of intent to arrest the corruption and dishonesty of this Gov’t and put those behind bars that have stolen from us even if that includes you Mr Arthur we need things done to save this country from falling further into the mire and hell than it already is in.
October 19, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Confession is good for the SOUL !
Well , well , well………it took HARDWOOD for the mighty Royalrumble to…….MUMBLE the following REVEALATIONS on the BLP Blog !
Check the Headline article below and Royalrumble’s ELOQUENT response !
I guess the results of the POLL below made him see the LIGHT !
http://www.luckypolls.com/5519/can-david-thompson-lead-the-dlp-to-victory-in-the-upcoming-general-elections
http://labourparty.wordpress.com/2007/10/12/protect-the-profession-resign-thompson/#comment-15342
Royalrumble // Oct 19th 2007 at 3:15 am
I can now confirm that there were 15 NON NATIONAL dismissals at HARDWOOD HOLDINGS today this is after ASSCOLl said they did not employ illegal workers.
Now this should be a crime that someone is charged for employing illegal workers the same as they would do had these been illegal sex workers!!!
The Hardwood issue is a strange one, that I am watching closely, if the DLP has more clear evidence they can break Mascoll, and indeed gain more votes/seats. If it is all a bluff and Owen and Mascoll, can show that it is all a bluff then you call elections quickly after when Thompson is still licking his wounds. So this is really the deciding factor. Owen will not take it lying down someone has to take the fall even may be Mascoll. So far it seems like the Hardwood CEO might be the one to suffer, cause some how he seems to be not not bright when it comes to money and business.
Murrell is a pawn and ASSCOLL is the player, I personally do not need anything further than what was presented to the public last night he is guilty as charged in my books all of them need investigating for fraud, if TONY HOYOS can be sitting on both boards the lender and the borrower at the same time and knownly lend our taxpaers money to a comany that is obviously being run very poorly where our money is at serious risk of being stolen by people like ASSCOLL and Murrell and others we have questions to ask of the creditabilty of Hoyos as Chairman and his functioning in that post.
October 20, 2007 at 10:28 pm
If the government of Barbados owns Hardwood who will be charged for issuing the bounced cheques?
Hoyos? Mascoll? Murrell?
It is illegal to tender a cheque without having the funds to cover it.
October 21, 2007 at 4:55 am
What the Royaljack__s seems like he to is jumping ship with those comments but please DLP keep him at arms length do not let him near he is a spineless sick minded traitor with no morals, however I am happy to see that he is finally opening his eyes and seeing his party for the corrupt bunch that they are and that he knows they are now he coming to grips with their dishonesty maybe he will have more to say.
November 7, 2007 at 7:26 pm
Reading the story below , Ah hope ASSCOLL ready for the disclosures to come during the pending no – confidence motion on HARDWOOD Inc. !
We know how Owen looked on TV during the March 2007 Budget debate wrap – up when the
$ 750,000.00 CHEQUE question was raised !
It gine be HEAT in de place !
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20071107/lead/lead1.html