AFC Chairman debunks Govt. allegations of shady business deal

Feb 22, 2014 News

Chairman of the Alliance For Change, Mr. Nigel Hughes has debunked allegations made by the Government of him not operating above board in relation to a property transaction
The Government claimed that Hughes sold a property to Mayfield French, the owner of Mae’s Schools in Subryanville and did not inform her that there was an outstanding mortgage payment.

Chairman of the Alliance For Change, Nigel Hughes.

Based on this claim, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) made several calls for the AFC Chairman to be sacked. They insisted that the attempt at a “racketing scheme” only served to cast further doubt on his integrity.
But during the press conference held at the Side Walk Café on Middle Street, the Attorney at Law presented his side of the story while sharing with members of the media tangible pieces of evidence which contradicted the PPP/C’s version of events.
Hughes, in setting the record straight said that on February 24, 2006, he sold the property, (Lot 29 Third Avenue, Subryanville, ) to Ms. French for $20M and there was an expressed reference of the mortgage in the memorandum of agreement which was signed. The mortgage was expressed under the heading ‘special condition’ which stated that “the mortgage on the said property is to be paid off on or before the passing of transport by the vendor.”
He noted too that the ex-parte motion to the court and several proceedings brought by Ms. French against him made no reference to the claim that she was unaware of the mortgage. “The purchaser was clearly aware at the time of the purchase of the property of the existing mortgage since it was recorded on the transport since February 16, 1998.”
Hughes showed members of the media copies of the transport which bore the annotation that the first mortgage was paid to Hand in Hand Mutual Insurance Company on February 16, 1998.
The most important fact he believes escaped the attention of the “PPP’s propaganda machinery is that at the time of the agreement only $4M was paid and the outstanding balance was $16M which was more than the mortgage, was outstanding when she signed.”
The lawyer added that an additional $8M was paid and French secured possession of the property in 2006. There was subsequently a remaining balance of $8. The conveyance was added in the Official Gazette in February 2007. The balance was not paid until recently, according to Hughes.
The payments along with the arrears on the mortgage were paid to Hand in Hand Mutual Insurance Company by Hughes last Tuesday to liquidate the outstanding sums on the mortgage. The civil action brought against Hughes by French has been settled.
The mortgage was cancelled and the transport is to be handed over by the Deeds Registrar, according to Hughes.