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Moonilal: EMBD lawsuit is battle of AGs

Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal has described an Estate Management and Business Development Company (EMBD) lawsuit, which named him as one of several defendants, as a “political witch hunt” which will pit a former attorney general against a sitting attorney general.

Moonilal has named former People’s Partnership attorney general Anand Ramlogan as his attorney.

The former Housing minister is one of four people and three companies accused, in a lawsuit filed by the EMBD, of engaging in an elaborate scheme of bid-rigging, bribery and collusion which led to hundreds of millions of dollars being disbursed to five contractors just prior to the 2015 general election.

The lawsuit against Moonilal, former EMBD chief executive Gary Parmassar, former divisional manager at EMBD Madhoo Balroop, Andrew Walker and companies Fides Ltd, Namalco Construction and LCB Contractors was filed in the Port of Spain High Court on Monday and announced by the Office of the Attorney General in a media release.

Addressing a cottage meeting of the UNC Stars slate which is led by incumbent political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar at Macaulay community centre, Claxton Bay, on Monday night, Moonilal said he had been expecting the lawsuit for the past month and predicted Ramlogan would prevail over the combined might of Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi and Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General Stuart Young.

“Today it came to our attention that the EMBD has indeed filed a matter in which they have named several defendants. In fact, they suing everybody in the world now but they have been brave enough to name me. Now I was waiting on this serving for about a month, finally they have delivered on a service and it is the worst service,” Moonilal said.

“So finally we have the showdown we waiting for – Ramlogan versus Al-Rawi and Young. I don’t want to say too much, but I want to tell you that we will win in the court house as we will win at the polls.

“This a political witch hunt, this is political persecution by Al-Rawi.”

Moonilal said while the EMBD could not deliver a single lot of residential or agricultural lands to Caroni workers over the past two years, it was now spending millions of dollars on legal fees.

And regarding the upcoming internal election, Moonilal said Sunday’s poll was not only to elect a new national executive but to send a message to the ruling PNM administration that the UNC membership was ready for the next general election.

Also addressing the meeting were deputy political leader candidates Jearlean John and David Lee.

Retired Alexandrov fears for Forensics

“Simply put, nothing is being done.” These were the words of retired forensic pathologist Dr Valery Alexandrov when asked yesterday about the conditions at the Forensic Sciences Centre.

Alexandrov, who resigned in September, said conditions at the centre have not improved since his retirement, and only one forensic pathologist, Dr Hughvon Des Vignes, is doing autopsies which, he says, are close to 1,000 a year.

In Tobago, Alexandrov said, Dr Eslyn McDonald-Burris was in charge of the forensic sciences centre and would have to work in Trinidad as well in Des Vignes’ absence.

“I don’t understand the system they have in place at this time. For the time being, Dr Burris is carrying out the autopsies in Tobago.

“If Dr Des Vignes goes on vacation for Christmas, she will be taking over his duties. Whatever arrangements they are making is absolutely ridiculous, because this office performs more than 1000 autopsies per year, which requires at least four forensic pathologists on board.”

He said, as the centre continues to grapple with a severe staff shortage, the number of bodies he saw during a visit to the centre last week had risen to 950, and confirmed that while the vacancy for a forensic pathologist has been advertised by the National Security Ministry, the process in not simple.

He said fewer than 25 per cent of medical school graduates go on to become forensic pathologists and must spend two years training as residents before being certified.

Alexandrov, who is finishing the last of his forensic reports, is expected to complete his commitments to the centre by December 31.

‘Best mother in the world’ dies in crash

Karen Joseph, a 51-year-old businesswoman hailed by her friends as “the best mother in the world,” died early yesterday morning in a car crash on the Beetham Highway.

Joseph was the mother of one and lived in Desperlie Crescent, Laventille. She owned a bar on the Eastern Main Road in Tunapuna.

According to reports, she was driving her Nissan AD Wagon west on the highway at about 4.30 am when, near VMCOTT, she lost control of the car and crashed. She died at the scene. Police cordoned off the area for inspection and closed one of the westbound lanes, causing a pileup of traffic. Her body was removed to the Forensic Science Centre (FSC) in St James for a post-mortem examination.

At the FSC yesterday, friends and relatives told Newsday Joseph was returning home from the bar and was talking on her cell phone using a hands-free headset.

The person who was speaking with her said she suddenly heard a loud bang. Moments after, she heard panicked voices asking Joseph if she was okay, and other voices calling for help. One of the people on Joseph’s end of the line was heard saying, “They would need to cut her out” just before the line went dead.

Minutes later, Joseph’s friend received a call from police confirming she had died in an accident.

A large group of friends and family gathered at the FSC to support her only son Kerron.

He was too distraught to speak, but friends described her as a nurturing, supportive, fun-loving person.

“She was the best mother in the world, because she raised a young man in Laventille and he turned out to be the sweetest, most respectful man anyone could ever meet,” said one of Joseph’s close friends. “She was a sweetbread, a real people’s person. She was more than a friend to most of the people here. She was a mother and a mentor. She was always there to listen and give advice. And if you were wrong in doing something, she would not be afraid to tell you so.” Friends said her bar, Surfers, was like a local version of bar in the television show Cheers, because everyone knew each other. The most popular nights were Karaoke Thursdays and Soup Saturdays. They said her favourite songs were At Last by Etta James, and Body and Soul by Anita Baker.

“Any time she heard those two songs she would light up. She would be cheering the singers along and clapping. She used to tell people if they could not sing, then clap. We visited her up to last night at the bar, and to wake up this morning to this news is the worst feeling.”

Co-ordinator of the police Strategic Road Safety project Brent Batson said yesterday while the use of hands-free devices is not illegal, they still lend to the dangers of distracted driving. He said using a hands-free device is statistically safer than holding the handset, but still poses a risk to the driver.

“One has to understand that even with the use of a hands-free device, it still takes a lot of cognitive space in the brain to maintain focus on a phone conversation while driving. The best practice is to limit phone conversations while driving so that there is more attention on the roadway.”

For the year so far, there have been 103 road fatalities. This is a nine per cent reduction from the number of fatalities for the same time last year – 113.

On Thursday, Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan is expected to officially hand over nine new speed guns to police.

Kamla wants strong showing at internal poll

Despite suffering from the effects of a cold, which include a sore throat and a nagging cough, incumbent UNC political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has described the party’s November 26 internal election as one in which the party’s membership can send a “strong message” to the ruling PNM administration that they were prepared to contest and win the next general election.

“It is very important that we send a very strong signal to the true enemy, the PNM, that we say to them here we are, that we are a strong party, our members have come out in full support, we are strong, we are solid and you better watch out because we are coming for you next Dr Rowley,” she said. Addressing a cottage meeting at the Macaulay Community centre, Claxton Bay, on Monday night, Persad-Bissessar observed the party, not only had to do some soul searching following its loss at the 2015 general elections, but had to accept collective responsibility for the loss.

She said unity was key to winning any election and cited the numerous occasions where the party had experienced a split as occurred in 2000 and 2007, when splinter groups such as Team Unity and the Congress of the People emerged to contest those respective elections.

“Once we divide we lose. Let us get it clear. If we hold together, we will win.”

Persad-Bissessar also trained her guns on Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan saying he had “great and serious questions” to answer regarding the Cabo Star – which she renamed the “Corbeaux Star” – and the Ocean Flower II.

PAY UP! WASA threatens to seize businesses

The Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) will sell the properties of its most recalcitrant commercial and residential customers in the next stage of debt collection, says chairman Romney Thomas.

At present, he said, errant customers owe over $500 million in debts, and in turn WASA owes “a huge unpaid debt to contractors.”

As a result, he said, “We plan to advertise some properties for sale for the most errant customers. Those mainly in the commercial areas are targeted at this point,

“Certainly before the end of the year we intend to advertise some properties.”

In his welcome address at yesterday’s commissioning of the McKai Booster Station, Belmont, Thomas said WASA will take drastic steps “to ensure that outstanding rates are paid by using the tools in its legislative arsenal to recover outstanding rates, which may lead to the sale of properties of the most recalcitrant of customers.”

This action was being taken after writing to certain clients, he said, and failing to get them to work out payment plans “notwithstanding our best efforts.”

The debt was “way too much to have out there when at the same time we are struggling to pay contractors. It is our duty to recover that money,” he said, explaining that the sale of properties falls under the Rates and Recovery Act.

Consideration was being given to needy communities and each customer was being treated on a case-by-case basis, he said, but the intended actions were in keeping with Government’s mandate to increase the collection of outstanding rates, eliminate wastage at all levels, and improve operational efficiency.

To eliminate wastage, Thomas said, several contracts were discontinued in instances where the work could be done in-house, which had resulted in savings of hundreds of millions of dollars. He raised the points, he said, against the background of the McKai Booster project, which was done by in-house staff and saved the company $900,000.

Recently, said Thomas, WASA commissioned a pipeline project in Fishing Pond, Sangre Grande for 278 households using in-house staff. Other such projects to be completed in the coming weeks and months include Mc David Intake, to increase the supply in Lopinot, Caiman Booster, to improve service in St Joseph, new wells in Arouca and Tucker Valley, and installing new pipes from South Oropouche to La Brea.

Minister of Public Utilities Robert Le Hunte said although WASA provides coverage to over 92 per cent of the population, “Only 38 per cent of the population has access to pipe-borne water 24/7.”

Expressing support for the measures it was taking to collect unpaid rates, he said Government subsidises WASA to the tune of almost $3 billion annually. A household pays about $3 a day for water, one of the lowest rates in the western hemisphere.

Warner on former mayor: I did all I could

Former Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner said he did his best to assist his long-time friend and colleage, former Chaguanas mayor Natasha Navas, to get help after she reportedly fell on tough times in recent years.

Newsday spoke yesterday to Warner, who said he has provided financial support over the past eight months and has had her admitted to psychiatric clinics in Mayaro and later in Maracas, as well as covering her living expenses.

However, he said Navas told him she would rather be left alone and he has not heard from her since.

Warner endorsed Navas when she was nominated as mayor in 2009 and later became her closest ally.

Newsday also spoke to current Chaguanas Mayor Gopaul Boodhan, who said Navas’ plight had engaged the attention of the Chaguanas community, and who was deeply concerned over her state of mind.

“We’ve made contact with her this afternoon and she spoke at length with our councillor Ronald Heeralal, and we intend to render assistance however best we can. We sympathise with her at this time, and we also understand that some of her relatives have also come forward to help.”

According to sources, up until late yesterday afternoon, Navas was still staying at the Gyaan Jyoti Mandali Temple at Madras Road. She was reported as living in squalid conditions and was spotted roaming the streets of Chaguanas in 2015 after she reportedly had a nervous breakdown.

Young tackles WASA corruption

Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Stuart Young has signalled that he is going after corrupt practices that he claims went on at the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) during the previous administration.

Speaking yesterday at the commissioning of WASA’s $2.2 million McKai Booster Station, Belmont, he said, “Two years ago – when it became known that one of the areas I will focus my efforts in the fight against corruption would be your institution, WASA – immediately as that became known, there was a fire at your headquarters.”

He continued, “I want to put the population on alert today. That work is going to continue now.” He said he would give the investigations direction. “We are going to clean up some of the corruption that exists. Those who are afraid of it need not be afraid, because you have the commitment of Government, and my personal commitment, in helping you to deal with that stage of work.”

Alluding to the proceedings that the Estate Management Business Development Company (EMBD) filed in the courts on Monday against former housing minister Dr Roodal Moonilal, three other people and five contractors “in our fight against corruption,” Young said, “Those proceedings are now before the court. As a government, we leave them there for the court to determine whether those acts of corruption, were really acts of corruption or not.”

Thanking WASA for completing the booster station, which will provide residents of McKai Lands with pipe-borne water after a 60-year wait, he said he was proud of the in-house staff who worked on the project and got the job done.

“The fact that you have started to utilise your workforce let us move away from contractors and the cartel of contractors that exists.” He said Government would support the effort and he was aware of the difficulty the authority faced from a lack of money to get the McKai project done.

The booster station, according to the director of programme and change management Denise Lee Sing, was estimated to cost $3.1 million. A total of $900,000 was saved on the station, which was completed two months ahead of schedule.

Lee Sing said the project, which would supply over 100 households with water, was done in two phases. It was conceptualised in 2014 by former manager the late Derek Hooker, who completed the first phase which entailed the laying of 1.5 km of PVC pipeline. The project was stalled after he died. The booster station was the second phase and has a design capacity of 135,360 gallons of water a day while being fed from the Picton Reservoir via the El Socorro Booster Station. Young said, even before the pipe was turned on yesterday, he had worked with the community to install water tanks at strategic points and WASA supported by filling the tanks.

Plastikeep facing month-end shutdown

The plastic collection and education programme Plastikeep, which has collected more than 700,000 pounds of plastic over eight years, will have to shut down at the end of the month unless it gets help from the Green Fund, says director and founder Rosanna Farmer.

She had previously reported that Plastikeep’s landlord, Scenic View Apartments, had given it an eviction notice for outstanding rent, with a deadline of October 29 to vacate its Maraval premises. The programme, which began in 2010, was previously funded by the Green Fund, but has not been able to access additional funding.

Farmer addressed the situation in a letter dated November 17 to stakeholders, posted on Plastikeep’s Facebook page on Monday.

“After all the work that has been done to educate the public on the importance of recycling, it has come to this. A very sad time indeed. We have two weeks before the bins are removed. Let’s hope we get a positive response from the Green Fund before then. In the mean time, you can voice your concern to those in authority if you so desire. Your support is greatly appreciated.” In the letter Farmer reminded stakeholders of the eviction notice and said neither she nor Plastikeep has the money to pay the rent of $4,500 a month and to date owed $85,500. As for utilities, she said neither she nor Plastikeep can pay for them after November 30, saying she had been funding the costs for electricity, telephone and internet out of her own money.

“In view of the above it becomes impossible for Plastikeep to provide support, communication and bin management beyond the end of the month. I shall be writing the Green Fund informing them of this state of affairs; in the event Plastikeep does not receive funding from the Government, Plastikeep unfortunately will be forced to remove all its bins. I trust that probity will prevail and that we will get the required funding by 30th November,” she wrote.

Planning Minister Camille Robinson-Regis, in a brief telephone interview yesterday, said the matter is still with the Green Fund Advisory Committee, which had not sent a recommendation forward as yet. She previously informed Sunday Newsday that from January 2010 to December 2015 Plastikeep received $10,679,684 in three tranches. She reported the Green Fund Advisory Committee was concerned that Plastikeep has not built the necessary capacity and sustainability to be an independent organisation, there are weaknesses to its approach to its waste-recycling methodology which have not been addressed and a business plan has not been developed.

Man guilty of raping girl, 5

A nine-member jury deliberated for just one hour on Monday before returning with a verdict of guilty against a 61-year-old man who raped a girl 11 years ago when she was five years old.

Conrad Matthias is expected to be sentenced on December 6 by San Fernando High Court Judge Justice Maria Wilson.

The girl, now 16, testified that on a date between 2006 and 2008, she was raped by Matthias who is from south Trinidad.

Prosecutor Sarah de Silva led evidence from the girl in the Third Assize Criminal court that she was confronted in a bedroom and ordered to take off her clothes. She told the judge and jury she remembered telling Matthias “no” but he raped her. The girl told her mother who reported the matter to the police on January 7, 2008. PC Irmaine Johnson recorded a statement from the child’s mother and a medical examination confirmed the child was raped.

Matthias was charged with one count of having sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 14. The mother, who was a witness for the State, was actually cross-examined by de Silva after she became uncooperative and refused to give evidence in accordance with the statement she gave to the police.

Matthias, who was represented by attorney Renuka Rambhajan, did not testify.

Dookeran: Carolyn is woman of steel

YVONNE WEBB

Congress of the People (COP) founder Winston Dookeran has described the newly elected leader Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan as a “woman of steel.”

In an e-mail response to the party’s internal elections which saw approximately one per cent of members casting their votes for the two contenders, Seepersad-Bachan and Dr Sharon Gopaul-Mc Nicholls, Dookeran said, in spite of the many challenges the party he once led faced during and out of the People’s Partnership, the party continued to germinate.

Commenting on the poor showing of the 40,000 members who failed to participate in Sunday’s process, Dookeran said he was hopeful that the party would grow. “My reflection is, the COP in the politics of our country is a mustard seed, not allowed to grow in a toxic political climate, but continues to germinate.”

The former party leader, who is in Washington, commended Seepersad-Bachan for demonstrating “steel” in staying the course in the party which helped to form the People’s Partnership coalition government under the leadership of former Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Dookeran said Seepersad-Bachan, who received 416 of the 589 votes cast, and Gopaul-McNicholls, who amassed 168 votes, should be proud of that feat. Seepersad-Bachan said, although the party had hit rock bottom, she was excited about rebuilding to a formidable force that could contest the next election.

However, Nicole Dyer-Griffith, who was denied the opportunity to vie for leadership, said, “To be able to motivate and mobilise 99 per cent of persons (who rejected the election process) to encourage them to participate in any process is going to be challenging for even the best of us. Much more for those who were only able to garner one per cent of the voters, to come out.”

Felicity cremation site due for relocation

At the Lackhan Kariah cremation site, in Felicity, the “living and the dead are very close together” and one can find religious and social activities mixing as a result.

Chaguanas Mayor Gopaul Boodhan made the comments yesterday in light of a proposed relocation of the site. Boodhan told Newsday people play loud music, they consume alcohol, dance and fish.

“So, we have a major challenge there where the recreation has gone way beyond fishing and more into entertainment recreation. The fishing area and the cremations are very close, and it has created problem in terms of health and social,” Boodhan said.

Yesterday, officials from the Chaguanas Borough Corporation, Rural Development and Local Government, Minister Kazim Hosein, and MP for Chaguanas West, Ganga Singh, visited the site at Cacandee Road, Felicity.

Boodhan said before any relocation is made, they first need to consult with stakeholders.

“We would not do anything until we have consultations with the wider community. These include villages, religious leaders who access this facility, the funeral homes and also the EMA and all the other associated national agencies,” Boodhan added. Consultations are expected to take place early December at the borough.

The proposed relocation is for an area known as Shipping Road, close to the Caparo River and approximately a five-minute drive from the current location. The mayor added the location has more space, more parking and other access roads.

The current area started as a village-type cremation site but, it now facilitates the entire borough and surrounding areas, the mayor said.

The Minister said the current location is like a marina and noted that religious and secular activities should not mix.

“Sometime people are liming and drinking next to where a funeral is taking place. It cannot work where it is right now. That area is like a marina, there are many boats, there are many treasure seekers. I see this as a fruitful start. First thing is to consult with the stakeholders- the business community, the fishermen, villagers about the proposal,” Hosein said.

Moonilal files notice of intention to fight EMBD’s lawsuit

Former Housing minister Dr Roodal Moonilal has, through his attorneys, filed a notice of appearance in the Estate Management and Business Development Company (EMBD) lawsuit which was filed against him on Monday in the Hall of Justice. The lawsuit also named EMBD’s former chief executive officer Gary Parmassar, former divisional manager Madhoo Balroop, Andrew Walker, and companies Fides Limited, Namalco Construction Services Limited and ICB Contractors Limited. The lawsuit contends there was bid-rigging and bribery in which hundreds of millions of dollars worth in contracts were handed out to contractors on the eve of the 2015 general elections.

Attorney Anand Ramlogan SC is leading a team which includes Jayanti Lutchmedial and Douglas Bailey, instructed by Alvin Pariagsingh on Moonilal’s behalf. The notice of application was filed at about noon yesterday in the San Fernando High Court. In the application form, the box which asked the question whether Moonilal as the defendant intends to defend the action, was ticked “yes” And the box which asked the question whether he admits part of the claim, was ticked “no”.

Moonilal has until December 18 to file his defence to the multi-million dollar claim in accordance with the Civil Proceedings Rules of the Supreme Court. The case will come up for hearing on a date in January before Justice Devindra Rampersad.

Housing Ministry opens applications for new programme

Over 300 people rushed to be among the first to submit applications for one of the 1,000 lots of land on offer from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development’s new Aided Self-Help Housing Programme.

In a release Tuesday, the Ministry said up to 250 people had already filed their formal applications on Monday, the opening day for submissions, at the Ministry’s Couva Village Plaza offices.

The programme was first launched on November 10, and offers resident citizens who are over 21 years old and do not own property, the opportunity to purchase state land for 30 per cent of the market value. They will also have access to subsidised mortgage facilities from the TT Mortgage and Finance Company, pre-approved house plans, and construction assistance.

Those who qualify and are approved have two years to complete construction. Resident citizens who do own land can also benefit, with subsidised mortgage rates and technical guidance.

Applicants face the same restrictions as the National Housing Programme, including a $25,000 income limit.

The land available for this first cycle is located around the Chaguanas and Couva area. Some of the parcels were part of the Land for the Landless programme.

Housing Minister Randall Mitchell said the response on opening day was “positive.” He added that he was not surprised by the turnout since initial reports suggested over 9,000 forms had been downloaded or otherwise collected from the Ministry.

“While Government is unable provide ready-built homes for everyone, we will continue with relentless pursuit to create innovative housing solutions for low and middle-income earners in need,” Mitchell said in a statement.

Applications for this first cycle of the Aided Self-Help Housing Programme close on January 12, 2018 and can be submitted at the Couva Village Plaza on Mondays to Friday from 8 am to 4 pm, and Saturdays from 8 am to 12 noon.

Sound and fury at JSC

THE EDITOR: I listened in awe at the proceedings at the JSC in the vexed matter of EFCL. Apparently, this is the third sitting of that august body on the said company.

In attendance were the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and the chairman and the CEO of EFCL. Conspicuously absent was any representative from the Ministry of Education, the body most complicit in the present fiasco that is EFCL. And while the chairman pounded on the former EFCL board for interfering in the day-to-day operations of the company, nary a dissenting word was heard about the more heavy-handed and obstructionist interference by the Ministry of Education in this and the previous administration.

The strategic plan that EFCL is embarked upon is akin to rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic; however, it is the MOE that needs the strategic plan.

An organisation that has dozens of legal judgements against it and many more actions and arbitrations in the works is most likely insolvent, and if I were a director, I would be donning a lifejacket and sitting in a lifeboat, preparing to abandon ship.

As I listened in wonderment, this quotation from Shakespeare springs to mind, in the words of Macbeth,

“It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.”

S Noel, Sangre Grande

TT getting its just reward

THE EDITOR: Your contributor, Mr Ian Ramdhanie, wrote an excellent letter in which he questioned whether the country is earning what it should from the exploitation of its oil and gas resources.

I chair the Trinidad and Tobago Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Steering Committee that provides oversight of the extractive sectors Industries (oil, gas, and mining) to address those very concerns so as to ensure the protection of the people’s patrimony and our children’s inheritance derived from the country’s natural resources. I can confirm that we have identified the same concerns described and, working with the Auditor General, we expect to see improvements made in the very near future to the practices and procedures employed by the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries.

Our annual EITI Reports (www.tteiti.org.tt) show that, in general, the country is receiving its just dues but there is evidence of some leakage and the reports list recommendations that, if adopted by government, would result in an increase in revenue collections. Given the financial challenges the country currently faces, we are hopeful that the EITI’s and Auditor General’s recommendation will be adopted without any further delay.

Victor Hart via email

Kudos to UTT for honouring Kitch

THE EDITOR: The thinker(s) at the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) ought to be congratulated for correcting one of the great tragedies of calypso, the non-award of a significant honour in his lifetime to Kitchener (Aldwyn Roberts), a calypso icon. The conferring of the honorary doctorate of arts posthumously to one of our great sons, Kitchie, will go a long way in appeasing his fans locally, regionally and internationally, who feel that the bard has been largely ignored by previous governments.

Kitchie, from Arima, had a distinguished career that spanned over 50 years of solid calypso hits on every topic under the sun.

It is a well-known fact the old Kitchie felt he had done enough and deserved the Trinity Cross,for his awesome calypso contribution It was unfortunate he got into a verbal tangle with the Government in 1993, arising out of a petition to upgrade the bard’s 1969 Humming Bird (Silver) Medal.The government of the day didn’t feel the same way and offered a medal of lesser pedigree. A stubborn Kitchie refused, There were mixed feelings about the controversy.

However, at last, the honour from UTT will be well appreciated by his fans and my good self, a Kitchie fan.

On another note,the UTT must also be congratulated on its pan music programme, which elevates our native genius and spirit.Two men they could look at next year are calypso icon Shadow (Winston Bailey) and one of the most unheralded panmen extraordinaire, Earl “Barney” Rodney of Solo Harmonites fame.

Keith Anderson via e-mail

EFCL’s $900M secret

The name of the contractor awarded 58 contracts worth $900 million has been withheld. The chairman of the State enterprise that gave out these contracts, the Education Facilities Company Limited (EFCL), cannot answer questions about them. The auditor appointed to sift through the EFCL’s affairs is itself now subject to a probe. And the former EFCL chairman, Arnold Piggott, does not wish to attend the Parliament committee that is seeking to understand all of it. In sum: this is a $900 million secret.

To be clear: the issue is not the identity of the contractor in question.

The issue is the complete breakdown of the public’s ability to scrutinise the affairs of a State enterprise. And a powerful State enterprise too, if it can do things like spend $900 million.

It may well be that all procurement rules have been complied with; that all policies designed to minimise risk and widen public participation in State business have been adhered to; that the contractor in question is unquestionably qualified to do the work.

But the lack of transparency on a matter that has cost taxpayers nearly $1 billion puts a pall over the EFCL as well as similar State enterprises that award contracts.

It does a disservice to the private firms that have responded to the Government’s call for greater private/public partnership; undermines confidence in the State’s ability to be fair and impartial; and raises suspicion where suspicion may not be merited. Who would not come away from Monday’s JSC hearing without a feeling that something has gone wrong?

What worsens this is the EFCL’s sad history of controversy. From the days of the Patrick Manning regime, the company was helmed by a PNM party treasurer who eventually resigned over concerns about his inter-locking positions at State entities.

Under Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s administration, EFCL staff were reportedly made to sign confidentiality agreements which blocked the firm from scrutiny; reports of a “contract mill” later emerged. The firm has been and continues to be bad news for the good citizens of Trinidad and Tobago.

It behoves Piggott to attend the proceedings of the Parliament committee. Even if he is correct in his belief that he has no legal obligation to comply with an invitation to attend, he has an ethical responsibility to do so.

It is simply in the public interest. That is something a former government minister, of all people, should be able to appreciate.

The public has a right to know what State enterprises are doing. Furthermore, it has a right to know whether systems and procedures at State enterprises are working.

It is a sign of serious dysfunction within EFCL that the current chairman is unable to shed light on the activities of the previous board. That speaks to a lack of proper documentation and poor systems of transition. Officials should not be able to avoid scrutiny by playing musical chairs.

Up until now, the Parliament committee system has been effective at shedding light on State enterprises. If they are to continue to do so, current and former officials must comply with their requests. If those officials have concerns about the proceedings of committees, they must raise them before those committees.

This is too important an issue for evasion. The country needs to have an explanation of this $900 million affair. Somebody has to answer.

A refreshing display of efficiency

THE EDITOR: In Trinidad, we often hear of institutions that frustrate and simply do not carry out their mandate – one distinctly recalls the ODPM sob performance – but with a true sense of appreciation, I wish to publicly commend the employees of the Tunapuna Social Services Dept.

What a refreshing display of efficiency, I recently visited their offices to assist my mother , who unfortunately suffered a stroke, and much to my surprise she was met in the vehicle by a very pleasant Ms J Gabriel and her information was processed.

This degree of professionalism actually begins as you enter the Tunapuna Social Services door.

Their service was impeccable, with special thanks to WSD MTS Tannie Beckles-Hunte, Ms Mohammed and a very hard-working Mr Terry Joseph, who worked through his lunch period so to alleviate the situation.

This type of dedication surely deserves thanks and recognition.

Our Minister of Social Services could be proud of her charges and her ministry’s performance. Keep up the good work.

Colin Fortune, Arima

Disturbing

THE EDITOR: A report of a sixth form student selling drugs to his classmates makes me shudder in my boots. Just think, what is next in the form of lawlessness in our schools?

The student apparently had a bag full of the stuff all packaged and ready for distribution. What or earth is happening to this once law-abiding and peaceful island.

GA Marques

Another Coast Guard Vessel Sinks

THE EDITOR: A multi-million dollar vessel down the drain while uniformed Coast Guard officers standby idly. Every backyard seaman knows survival basics such as: always have a bailer on standby if a vessel takes in water yet, these officers seem to be liming while the vessel goes down.

While our crippled and fake economy continues to pay for purchases including oil, and for rents and leases for all kinds of expensive, imposed, unnecessary, inflated or lavish property or equipment (boats,planes, helicopters, posh vehicles, unoccupied buildings, apartments, etc etc etc) has any government considered it prudent to ask why do our Government agencies waste so much.

Why do all Government business interests always lose or waste so much money each year? Petrotrin, with 4.6Billion TTD audited losses in 2016, holds the record to date with annual losses 20 times more than Caroni did when it was closed.

We urge Dr Rowley to ask himself why does our Coast Guard wreck every one of its high powered prestige vessels in what mariners consider to be record time?

A prime minister has a duty to ensure that government agency expenditures are necessary, are prudently acquired and are managed efficiently and loyally. These officers appear to be untouchable.

GARY ABOUD, FFOS