Shadow Tourism Minister Zane DeSilva has been blasted by the OBA for claiming the Government prioritises money over Bermudians.

Mr DeSilva criticised the continuing bid to relocate a family from the failed Grand Atlantic housing development in Warwick, saying offers to move them were attempts to “displace” them.

The OBA hit back yesterday, saying Mr DeSilva “is never one to let sensible thinking stand in the way of political point scoring”.

“His Thursday statement saw him trip over the Grand Atlantic development in his rush to attack the OBA Government,” a spokesman said.

“Mr DeSilva said the Opposition PLP would oppose any attempt to ‘displace’ the sole homeowners at the Grand Atlantic development, the Marshall family, with ‘every measure at our disposal’.

“A few sentences later, Mr DeSilva said, ‘let’s broker a deal at Grand Atlantic that doesn’t deprive the Marshall family and move forward with this project’.

“The PLP position on this situation is clear as mud. Are they for keeping the Marshalls in place, or are they for striking a deal with them, as the Government is trying to do?”

The OBA also hit back at Mr DeSilva’s claims the Marshalls were being “displaced ... so others could profit”.

“Does that mean he is against the proposal to convert the 78-unit development into an all-suite condo hotel, which was welcomed by his colleague Wayne Furbert when it was first announced in April?” the spokesman asked.

“Government officials continue to work for an acceptable deal with the Marshall family that would have them vacate their condo unit to allow resort planning to proceed.”

The OBA said the Government had offered the Marshalls a choice of properties valued at about $200,000 more than the price paid for their Grand Atlantic unit. They also offered to buy the unit at a 35 percent return on their investment, or to have an independent appraisal of their condo unit and sale with all costs borne by the Government.

“Mr DeSilva is playing fast and loose with a significant opportunity to make something work that the previous government failed to do, having spent some $45 million of taxpayer money on a housing project that was not needed, selling just one of its 78 units,” the OBA spokesman said.

“Mr DeSilva’s statement is an example of what we mean when we say the Opposition is putting party before country. It’s time the PLP dialled back their politics-first approach to national issues and support actions that can help Bermuda work better for Bermudians.”

The OBA said Government was “trying to turn a lemon into lemonade” with the Grand Atlantic.

“We’re trying to make productive use of an asset that could generate jobs, careers and income for many Bermudians over time,” the spokesman said. “Government’s discussions with the Marshall family are based on offering them the best possible arrangement to achieve this larger goal.”