Duke calls for answers on zipline project

Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) political leader Watson Duke says PNM Tobago Council leader Tracy Davidson-Celestine must “come straight with the public” about the $2.5 million that was spent on a failed zipline project for the Main Ridge Forest Reserve.

PDP deputy leader Farley Augustine raised the issue during the party’s drive-in meeting at Gardenside, Scarborough, on January 10.

Queries about the huge sum spent on the project were contained in an Auditor General Department’s management letter to the THA for the period ending September 30, 2020.

The letter, dated November 12, 2020, was sent to Chief Administrator Bernadette Solomon-Koroma.

Davidson-Celestine was the secretary for tourism and transportation at the time the project was initiated under the former Orville London-led THA in 2015.

But she has denied any wrongdoing in the project, saying it barely got off the ground when she demitted office and took up the appointment as TT Ambassador to Costa Rica.

On Saturday, Duke called for answers.

“How could $2.5 million be spent and all that can be found by the Auditor General is a piece of rope? he asked. “That needs proper explanation.”

Duke, who is contesting the Roxborough/Delaford seat in the January 25 THA election, also said he considers it “quite strange” that Davidson-Celestine would blame public servants for the discrepancy.

“You see, Tracy’s handlers are from Trinidad and chief handler is Dr Keith Christopher Rowley and just some months ago, he was threatening public servants, saying ‘If allyuh vote for somebody else allyuh go lose allyuh wuk.’”

He added: “So she is almost singing the very same tune to them, that you all have caused me to be exposed, take the blame and you all going to lose your work.”

Duke said she should not have blamed public servants.

“That is definitely a statement made in its truest form in error because you cannot point out some five or six years later that the fault was public servants. You can’t do that. “There are rules and if public servants behave themselves inappropriately, you can definitely ensure that they are charged by the administrator and in case it’s an administrator, the chief administrator can write up the administrator.”

Duke said the head of the public service can also discipline the chief administrator.

“The head of the public service can write up the chief administrator and the Public Service Commission or whatever forum they have at those levels, kicked in.

“Not five years later, you turn around, where you have nowhere to run and you blame public officers as the scapegoat.”

Duke said the PDP has no handlers.

“Our political leader is right here in Tobago. They do not come from Trinidad. And we are here in Tobago to protect the interest of all Tobagonians.”

Duke said if the PDP wins the January 25 THA election, it would be a new day for public officers.

“They would be able to carry out their jobs without fear or favour, affection or ill will for the greater good and the development of Trinidad and Tobago.

“We would welcome their advice whether it falls in their garden the right way or the wrong way, we welcome the advice of public officers because they are here to protect the public purse.”