Galleons Passage documents for Parliament

FINANCE Minister Colm Imbert will lay all documentation pertaining to the purchase of the US$17.4 million Galleons Passage fast ferry in Parliament, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young said yesterday at the post-Cabinet news conference.

Saying ongoing allegations by the Opposition about corruption in the purchase of the vessel were discussed at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Young disclosed that Imbert will very shortly, “lay in Parliament, the documentation involved in the procurement of the Galleons Passage.”

Saying he is aware of a new attempt by the Opposition to insist a broker was involved in the deal, Young said, “I don’t think there is any issue there whatsoever.” He declared, “The documentation will make all of the issues clear. The documentation will lay out exactly what happened.”

Imbert, Young indicated, will lay the documents in Parliament before the end of the current session. Parliament goes into recess next month. Asked if these documents will be laid in the House of Representatives when it sits today, Young replied, “Let’s see when he (Imbert) does it.” In the Senate on Tuesday, the Opposition debated a motion which demanded Imbert provide the Senate with these documents in two weeks.

Recalling he was part of a Cabinet sub-committee which was asked to find a vessel for the sea bridge, Young said, “We were in an emergency situation. A vessel was found. It was a good deal for TT.” When it came to procurement, Young said it is public knowledge that the National Infrastructure Development Company (Nidco) was contracted to do that.

Young leaves TT on July 16, for Venezuela for follow-up discussions on a cross border gas agreement for Venezuela’s Dragon Field.