Chief Secretary: 'It was Udecott that stopped Tobago projects'

THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine has denied claims that the assembly has stopped the Urban Development Corporation (Udecott) from completing projects started in Tobago.

In fact it was the corporation that stopped the work, he said.

Augustine was addressing the concerns of residents at Tuesday’s district town meeting at the Mt St George Community Centre in the Mt St George/ Goodwood electoral district.

“That’s the furthest thing from the truth.”

He said even before he took office in December 2022, he met with Udecott, which had several THA projects on its hands. He said in 2022, he met with Udecott again and went through all the projects and their timelines as well as the challenges.

“Three projects posed some challenge. One was Charlotteville (pavilion) which we gave a clear signal to early on because we were saying...they can’t break down the pavilion and build a community centre. A pavilion must be returned as part of the plans. So that was made clear early on.”

He said the Bacolet Sporting Facility was also discussed. He said when they looked at the layout it was realised that the facility could not host any international games, as it did not meet the specifications and codes for international events. He said as a result sporting officials were invited, there was a mini consultation, and all agreed that needed to change.

He said they spoke with both Udecott and the contractors about add-ons and was told, it could happen. He said at that point it was agreed that the add-ons would be done to meet international standards.

The third project that raised some issues was the Goodwood pavilion as residents raised some concerns. He said upon listening to the residents, they were saying that the site wasn’t suitable.

The THA then told Udecott to pause and analyse that project. He said they met with Udecott, however a week later, they noticed that the work was continuing.

“I pulled Assistant Secretary (Wane) Clarke and I said to him listen, you see where them blocks gone up already, at this point let’s just continue and complete the project as is and then we would have to move the lights.”

At the beginning of the 2022 fiscal year, he was told the THA’s Division of Community Development, Youth Development and Sport had made payments to Udecott for the projects.

He then fast tracked to February 2023. He said he called Udecott for a meeting in Shaw Park to discuss to way forward.

“The way forward would be, we’ll finish off Goodwood as it is, we would vary the scope at Bacolet to now expand it and you already have confirmation from us that we want the pavilion on top of the community centre in Charlotteville.”

He said, however, when he arrived at Shaw Park, there was a twist.

"The CEO of Udecott pulled me aside and said, 'I would like to have a chat with you before the meeting.' It was there and then that she informed me that Udecott was desirous of pulling out of the projects from Tobago. I said, 'Is that how we does do business? You have a contract with the THA. What are the legal ramifications of this? How you could decide to pull out?'”

He said he was told the board had met and took a strategic decision.

He said subsequently, he was emailed the letter and a hard copy followed.

He was later sent a letter to that effect.

“Is Udecott who say so, is them write the letter. Nobody in the THA wrote them, 'We don’t want allyuh.' In fact, we were paying. So if you hear anybody saying we write Udecott and tell them leave the project – tell them I say they too liard, right? Nothing ent go so. They wrote us and they terminated those projects.”

He said he has since found a back-up plan.

“Just about two weeks ago, I sent through a letter in the system for all of these projects to be rerouted through E-IDCOT (Eco-Industrial Development Company of Tobago). E-IDCOT is mobilising to go and complete those projects."

He added: “They have to work out the legal parameters because remember, Udecott had contractors on those projects. Is the THA now enabled to now go and just retender and pick a contractor to do those projects? Are we legally obligated to carry on with the same contractors who were doing those projects? Does Udecott have to pay us anything for abandoning the project? Is there a breach of contract...?

"All of these are answers that we have to seek between February and now to ensure that we’re treading on proper legal grounds.”