A heated controversy has emerged in Trinidad and Tobago over the allocation of government-subsidized housing to the wife and children of Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, while over 200,000 citizens remain on the waiting list. Anil Roberts, a senator and housing minister, raised the issue in a Facebook video, questioning the propriety of the acquisitions by Eloise Gonsalves and her children, Storm and Soleil Gonsalves. Roberts highlighted that the properties were secured under the administration of former Prime Minister Keith Rowley, whose party, the People’s National Movement (PNM), was ousted in April. Gonsalves’ Unity Labour Party (ULP), seeking a sixth consecutive term, is closely aligned with the PNM. Roberts criticized the preferential treatment, noting that Storm Gonsalves allegedly signed a false declaration about his income to qualify for the housing scheme, which is a criminal offense in Trinidad and Tobago. He called for a police investigation into the matter, emphasizing that the allocation of multiple subsidized homes to one family contradicts the principles of fairness and equality enshrined in the Constitution. Roberts also questioned whether Prime Minister Gonsalves disclosed these assets in his integrity filings in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), where such legislation is absent. Meanwhile, Phillip Alexander, another housing minister, echoed the call for an investigation, stressing that the houses are intended for citizens in dire need, not for non-residents or politically connected individuals. Documents obtained by iWitness News reveal detailed banking information and application records, further fueling the scandal. The controversy underscores broader concerns about transparency and accountability in public office across the Caribbean region.
Questions over gov’t houses, PM Gonsalves’ wife, children bought in Trinidad
