Monday 23rd May, 2011: The St. Lucian Government has asked for the help of former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy under the New National Party Administration Senator Gregory Bowen. Senator Bowen’s assistance is being sought in reference to St Lucia’s effort to extricate itself from an agreement signed with questionable businessman Jack Grynberg.
The Honourable Richard Frederick Minister of Physical Development, Urban Renewal, Local Government, the Environment and Housing in the St. Lucian Government made an informal visit to Grenada on Friday to personally request guidance of Senator Bowen on how best to proceed on the matter. At a press conference held at the NNP headquarters Mt Helicon, Honourable Frederick stated that his government is seeking advice on how and what is the best mechanism to use in getting out of the agreement with Grynberg signed by the former Kenny Anthony Administration. Echoing similar sentiments to Mr. Archibald, lead counsel in the law firm of Roger V. Archibald PLLC who represented Grenada against Grynberg in New York when he referred to Senator Bowen as a hero, the St. Lucian Minister stated that he is high in admiration for Senator Bowen’s efforts, patriotism and sacrifice in getting Grenada out of the clutches of Grynberg, and expressed his gratitude to Bowen for accepting the Government’s invitation to guide them every step of the way in their fight against Grynberg.
Minister Frederick was referring to Grynberg’s worldwide escapades of signing agreements to explore for oil and gas with countries tying up all their waters then immediately invoking a force majeure clause to avoid performance (spending monies for exploration), in Grenada and St. Lucia’s case, because the boundaries with their neighbours were not delimited, and meanwhile selling off exploration rights to large capable firms for huge personal benefits. When these countries try to get out Grynberg will sue for large sums of monies as the US$500million in Grenada’s case and make wild accusations to force a settlement. Grynberg has collected many millions of dollars from governments and companies using such fraudulent tactics.
Senator Bowen gave a background on the issue of the dispute between RSM Corporation and Grenada. He also stated that similar actions taken by Mr. Jack Grynberg in Grenada and St. Lucia were also taken in Israel and the Republic of Chad. He further stated that several other Caribbean islands also have signed agreements with Grynberg’s RSM Corporation. Bowen indicated that both Grenada and Trinidad & Tobago warned Dominica about getting involved with Grynberg and that country rejected Grynberg who maliciously indicated that his rejection was because he refused to pay a bribe requested of him by the then Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Dominica. Bowen spoke of the refusal of neighbouring governments including the St Lucian Government, to then provide documents to the NNP Government in Grenada’s successful attempt at getting out of the agreement signed with Grynberg. Notwithstanding this Senator Bowen stated that he is willing to assist other countries in the interest of Caribbean Unity.
Minister Frederick stated that the contract signed by St. Lucia with RSM Corporation is similar to that signed with Grenada. He declared that on coming into office they were inundated by investors willing to explore the waters of St. Lucia for the potential oil and gas deposits. He went on to explain that his government’s hands were tied by the agreement signed by the former St. Lucian Government and as such they sought to terminate the agreement with RSM Corporation in the interest of all St. Lucians since RSM had not made any moves to ensure that St. Lucians were able to benefit from the potential of their waters. Minister Frederick stated that the St. Lucian Government is now using the same lawyers used by Grenada and that the entire government mechanism is at work in getting St. Lucians out of the agreement.
The St. Lucian Minister said that there is a lesson to be learnt from the entire Grynberg affair. He stated that the Caribbean needs to take a collaborative approach to the issue of due diligence. He spoke of the need for islands to communicate with each other and find out if their neighbors have had similar experiences which they can therefore try to avoid. He said that he hopes that other countries would learn from the experiences of Grenada and St Lucia.
Considering the lies propaganda and other falsehoods perpetrated by the NDC in their campaign to win the last general elections of which the collusion with Grynberg and the use of Anslem Clouden in particular, to tarnish Bowen’s character by perpetuating the false accusation of asking for a bribe was one of the worst, resulting in his loss at the polls, this development is remarkable indeed. The Lord works wonders and the truth shall always prevail. Not only has Grynberg been found lying, but also his employee Anslem Clouden had to admit in a court matter that he willfully lied with the sole purpose of destroying the New National Party and removing them from office.
The former deputy Prime Minister is indeed standing tall not only in the eyes of Grenadians, but in the eyes of the region, if not internationally. No one should ask why is he now helping St. Lucia when they did not help us, for while many of us were trying to destroy him, he did not let that deter him from saving Grenada $1.35 billion!
