Former NPP National Chairman Freddie Blay has defended his son’s claim to the property demolished at La Beach, insisting that he did not simply occupy the land without the approval of the relevant authorities.
Speaking to JoyNews, Mr Blay said his son had engaged the La Traditional Council and the La Beach management authorities before developing the property.
He said his son initially worked with the La traditional authorities on a section of the beachfront, sharing profits from the facility, before seeking a separate piece of land to develop his own business.
“He didn’t come from the sky to go and be there,” Mr Blay said.
According to him, his son first approached the authorities to discuss taking a strip of the land because the development required facilities such as bathrooms, toilets and parking.
“They did it together. They shared profit. Now he says, ‘I want to stay here to do the building. Can I have this piece of land to do it?’”
Mr Blay said the Labadi Beach authorities subsequently directed his son to the La Traditional Council and the La Beach management organisation, which he said had control over the land.
He said he personally accompanied his son to the La Traditional Council, where an agreement was reached and a lease was granted for the property.
“In one instance, I accompanied him to the La Traditional Council and they agreed, negotiated, gave him a lease all over that piece of land to set it,” he said.
Mr Blay therefore rejected suggestions that his son had simply taken over the beachfront property without any engagement with the relevant authorities.
