Moonilal on scrapped housing project: What does HDC have to hide?

MP for Oropouche East and former housing minister Dr Roodal Moonilal questioned why the HDC did not “stand its ground” in support of a Chinese-based company on the cusp of being awarded a $475 million housing project.

Moonilal, speaking at the Opposition press briefing at the party’s headquarters in Chaguanas and virtually on its social media platforms on August 18, said the UNC raised the issue with the HDC awarding the housing project to a company called China Harbour Engineering Corporation on August 5.

But it was not until two local contracting companies initiated challenge proceedings through the Office of the Procurement Regulator (OPR) that the HDC cancelled the project.

HDC managing director Jayselle McFarlane issued a notice on August 16 that the procurement process, which started in January, had been cancelled. McFarlane said the HDC decided not to continue with the project.

“The HDC must explain why they cancelled the contract with China Harbour,” Moonilal said.

“What do you have to hide? They have gone back to the scandalous days of 2010 and before. They have gone back to the Calder Hart HDC days before we came into office in 2010.”

“Trinidad and Tobago has excess capacity, idle capacity for construction of homes. Why do you need a foreign company to build houses?”

Moonilal said when the matter was raised by the opposition, the HDC put out three different press releases in response, expressing confidence in the selection process and “attacking” him for speaking out.

“Why didn’t you go through with it if you issued press releases that everything was above board?” Moonilal asked.

Newsday called HDC chairman Noel Garcia and Minister of Planning Camille Robinson-Regis on August 18 but calls to both phones went unanswered.

Moonilal: UNC saved TT from Jindal, corruption

Moonilal knocked the Prime Minister, who recently said critics were chasing away investors, in the wake of several protests against the award of the use of the Petrotrin refinery to Indian businessman and politician Naveen Jindal.

Moonilal said thanks to the UNC’s and the trade union movement’s intervention, TT was saved from corruption.

“You have heard recently this Jindal scandal that was exposed by the honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, one of many that we have exposed. You know what the Prime Minister said? He said this country is in a bad state because the opposition is chasing away investors…Have you ever heard something so stupid?

“If the opposition has the power to ward off investors, then we have the power to attract investors as well. If that is the case, then we should put the opposition in government.

“Thankfully for the people of TT, the UNC, working with our colleagues in the trade union movement, were able to ward off that threat.

“I believe we have saved this country from another corruption scandal.”

Jindal, chairman of the Jindal Steel and Power Ltd in India, made a courtesy call to the Prime Minister in June, during which he expressed his interest in the Petrotrin refinery.

Jindal, 54, is known in India as a business stalwart, lauded for his advocacy for women’s empowerment. He was recognised by the World Economic Forum when he was ranked among the top 25 Indians in its annual list of 250 global young leaders.

He was recently elected MP for the Haryana state in the Indian 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

In 2013, he was charged by India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) amid allegations of cheating and graft.

As news of the allegations began to circulate in TT, trade unions and the opposition levelled fiery criticisms over how the deal was being made and the relationship between Jindal and Rowley.