By Sue-Ann Wayow
PRIME Minister Dr Keith Rowley purchased a million-dollar property from Inez Investment Ltd in Tobago but has not yet declared that asset to the Integrity Commission which is a violation of the law, alleges Member of Parliament for San Juan/Barataria Saddam Hosein.
And his daughter Sonel Rowley, also purchased a million-dollar lease agreement in Tobago from Allan Warner of Inez Investment Ltd and the deed was prepared by Dr Rowley’s wife, attorney Sharon Clarke-Rowley.
Hosein spoke about the two purchases on Monday during the United National Congress UNC virtual report.
A couple of weeks ago, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar raised a thick file at the meeting stating that all will be revealed soon regarding Inez Investments Ltd and a property development, Inez Gate Development at Shirvan Road.
Hosein said, “The development has many prominent PNM purchasers.”
Claiming that copies of the deeds were sourced for every purchaser, Hosein listed the names of some. They included House Speaker Brigid Annisette-George husband Newman George, Central Bank Governor Alvin Hiliaire, director of several state enterprises Ingrid Lashley, Senior Counsel Gilbert Peterson , business owner Allan Warner, Dr Rowley and his wife and Sonel Rowley.
Hosein said the average price for a townhouse was an average price of $1.6 to $1.8 million but the Rowleys got an almost one million discount jointly noting that the sizes of the unit were similar.
He said, “From the deeds, we have in our hands, the prime minister and his wife got a hefty discount in the townhouse unit. While everyone else seems to be paying 1.6 million to 1.8 million for their unit, the prime minister according to a deed dated 21st February 2019, paid $1.2 million for his unit. The prime minister got a discount of a whopping $500,000 off of his townhouse.”
About Sonel Rowley’s purchase, Hosein said, “She purchased not from Inez Investment but from the prime minister’s friend Mr Allan Warner and she paid, just like the prime minister $1.2million for her unit. However, what is strange about the transaction, is Mr Allan Warner’s transaction. Before he sold the unit, to Ms Sonel Rowley, he purchased the unit from Inez Investment for $1.6 million and then sold it to Ms Rowley for $1.2 million, a discount of $400,000.”
The MP questioned, “Why would a businessman buy a property and sell it at a loss?”
Hosein explained that all public office holders were required by law to declare their assets to the Integrity Commission.
He said, “As of last week, checks were done at the Integrity Commission and it was revealed that the Prime Minister failed to declare the purchase of the townhouse from Inez Investments. Very strange.”
Dr Rowley is in Barbados for the inauguration of Barbados first president Dame Sandra Prunella Mason.
The UNC had also questioned the involvement of recently appointed Police Service commissioner Maxine King who they also alleged had involvement with Inez Investment Ltd through the company she works for, a wealth management company named Firstline Securities Ltd.
According to the company’s website, Inez Investment Limited is part of the Warner Group of Companies established in June 2015.
About the development at Shirvan Road, the company stated, “This community consists of 46 townhouse units (3 bedrooms and 2 ½ bathrooms). It provides a tranquil living experience with all the amenities of an urban space due to its strategic location and carefully designed, gated interior space.”
Sonel Rowley’s purchase
An uncertified copy of the deed made out in Sonel Rowley’s name was also sent to the media.
The deed was made on August 5, 2021, between Allan Warner of Grandby Beach Estate, Tobago and Sonel Rowley of Goodwood Park Trinidad for a property valued 1,200,00 from Warner’s company, Inez Investments.
The three-bedroom townhouse in the parish of St. Patrick in Tobago comprising of 160.8 square metres has been made out in an unexpired lease agreement to Sonel Rowley for a period of 999 years.
The deed states, “We, Inez Investments Ltd hereby consent to the absolute assignment from Allan Warner to Sonel Rowley of the unexpired residue of the term of lease of Unit B1, Inez Gate, Shirvan Road, Mount Pleasant in the Island Ward of Tobago, held under Deed of Lease dated the 13th day of September 2019.”
