Calder Hart has too much power: Critics

There is a chorus of condemnation from the opposition benches about the role of Calder Hart, the Executive Chairman of the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDECOTT) and the power he wields in spending state funds.

Kamla Persad-Bissessar says the Opposition UNC-A will use all its powers to get answers and expose what she calls "rampant corruption surrounding UDeCoTT."

The Siparia MP and former Attorney General says this is a critical matter and suggested that Hart's "power" was at the root of the dismissal of senior Cabinet Minister Dr Keith Rowley.

Rowley raised concerns at a Cabinet sub-committee meeting over the building of a 60-room hotel along with the National Academy of Performing Arts project, one of more than a dozen mega-projects to be built by UDECOTT as part of the government's Vision 2020 project.

Rowley told reporters Prime Minister Patrick Manning fired him for objecting to UDECOTT's "access to and expenditure of public monies in a manner which does not meet proper procurement practices."

He explained that it was matter of principle: "Given the position I took with the UNC, and it was never political, it was always about principle. I believe that if something is wrong under the UNC, it is doubly wrong under the PNM because we should know much better."

Rowley revealed that some members of Cabinet were shocked to learn the a 60-room hotel was going to be part of the performing Arts project.

He said following a presentation by Hart his objections were made "firmly within the confines of the Cabinet and that under the Westminster system, where members are jointly and severally bound, any objection by a Minister has to take place within the confines of the Cabinet and its sub-committees".

Rowley said he used no obscene language, did not bang on his desk, nor did he shout or attack anyone. He said he merely questioned the large sums which UDECOTT was expending without proper oversight.

He added that he understood how UDECOTT operated and he felt "duty-bound to intervene".

Manning has told a different story. He said he fired Rowley because of he behaved like a "hooligan" and explained that his action had noting to do with Rowley's concerns over UDECCOTT and Hart.

In fact the prime minister even suggested that Rowley might be back in Cabinet because he is a Christian and can be forgiven.

But the opposition is not buying Manning's story. Persad Bissessar said while the government is committing billions of dollars into UDECOTT's mega projects there is little or no transparency and accountability.

She suggested that it was appropriate for an intervention by the Auditor General, adding that an independent commission of enquiry was in order.

Manning is not perturbed by the opposition's rantings. He has made it clear that there will be no investigations into UDECOTT.

Hart has overall responsibility for the award of contracts worth billions of dollars.

• Some of the projects include:
• Customs—$114 m
• Inland Revenue—$275 million
• Legal Affairs—$375 million
• Education Ministry—$114 million
• Health Ministry—$143 million
• A 1600 unit car park—$175 million
• The POS Waterfront—$1.2 billion, which includes the 428-room Hyatt hotel
• 42,000 square foot Arima Borough Corporation
• 35,000 Chaguanas Regional Corporation Complex
• Diego Martin Regional Administrative Complex
• Chancery Lane Complex, San Fernando
• Scarborough Esplanade Waterfront project
• National Academy for Performing Arts, Port of Spain (which got Rowley into trouble)
• National Academy for the Performing Arts, San Fernando
• National Carnival and Entertainment Centre, Port of Spain
• Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba ($500 million approximately)

The projects are in varying stages of planning and implementation with UDECOTT having total financial control. Critics say this gives Calder Hart more power than Cabinet ministers and he seems invincible because he answers only to the prime minister.