Rihanna tied up in gifted land controversy

R&B singer Rihanna has been embroiled in a controversy after a Barbadian minister gave her a free piece of real estate while poor residents struggle to cope nearby. Minister of Housing and Lands Michael Lashley gifted the ''Umbrella'' hitmaker a plot in the upmarket area of Apes Hill as a token of gratitude for boosting international interest in the Caribbean island nation.

However, Government Minister Gline Clarke has lambasted the decision - insisting a rich pop star has no right to garner free land while other Barbadians live in poverty, reports the Daily Star. "Why is the government paying millions of dollars for land for someone who's already making millions?" he asked.