Gopeesingh hits Piggott

Caroni East MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh has slammed as “crude and brazen”, the decision of former Education Facilities Company Ltd (EFCL) chairman Arnold Piggott to ignore a Joint Select Committee (JSC) hearing on Monday, where major irregularities were revealed at the company during the time of Piggott’s chairmanship.

Gopeesingh said Piggott chose to ignore a Constitutionally-constituted committee and issued, in Gopeesingh’s view, an arrogant and self-indulgent statement to support his decision to absent himself from the hearing.

“His disgraceful move has taken place in the midst of revelations that the Board of Directors which he headed had overstepped its boundaries and interfered in the day-to-day operations of the EFCL and was involved in improprieties pertaining to procurement,” Gopeesingh said. He alleged that at the time, the EFCL had hired under-qualified staff.

“Mr Piggott’s resignation last June took place after major allegations and Attorney General Faris Al Rawi summoned a meeting of the Board amid serious claims. Now Mr Piggott has refused to cooperate in an enquiry into his stewardship by a bi-partisan Committee of Parliament,” the former education minister said. He congratulated the Joint Select Committee’s decision to issue a Parliament-sanctioned summons to Piggott to attend its next hearing. Piggott has since had a change of heart and has indicated that he is now willing to appear before the Committee at its next hearing.