Cabinet says no to UDeCOTT probe; Rowley insists on one

Keith Rowley insists a Commission of Enquiry is absolutely required to deal with the perception of corruption in the Urban Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT). But Prime Minister Patrick Manning had already rejected that and on Thursday Cabinet agreed with Manning.

Rowley is bothered about the government's attitude to the concerns he expressed and told reporters Thursday it reminds him of the incidents that led to the collapse of the Panday government in 2001.

"The PNM is doing nothing now that the UNC didn't do, leading up to the 2001 election," he said. The former Trade and Industry Minister said he has personal information that he could present to Commission of Enquiry. He even offered to help draft the terms of reference for a probe.

But at a news conference following Thursday's Cabinet meting Rowley's successor, Dr Lenny Saith, said there is no real basis for a public inquiry into UDeCOTT's operations, adding that was the consensus of the Cabinet.

Saith expressed the need for caution in dealing with these matters. He agreed with the call for the Auditor General’s investigation, noting that it “is consistent with what the Auditor General has to do, and I’m sure that the Government is going to make a statement on that matter.”

He gave reporters the assurance that "the Government is going to address that and in due course make a statement on it.”

Works Minister Colm Imbert also agreed that there is no need for any Commission of Enquiry into UDeCOTT. He said there is a lot of talk but no facts to support the allegations.

He said nobody has produced a prima facie case of evidence to indicate that there appears to be something wrong, and asked, “Why should there be a commission of enquiry into UDeCOTT, and why should there be a forensic audit into UDeCOTT?”

He added that the confusion over Rowley's dismissal is because there is a perception that Cabinet didn't approve the performing arts centre project and that it was not subjected to proper Cabinet, budgetary and scope of works oversight.

Imbert said he checked and saw in several documents where a hotel at the performing arts centre was clearly a part of the project, with all of the necessary approvals from Cabinet.

Imbert's defence isn't sitting well with Rowley. He said he wants Imbert to say whether it was proper Calder Hart, the chairman of UDeCOTT, to bring failed bidder Hafeez Karamath to meet a government minister.

"Is that not enough of a basis for concern, if they have confidence in that, I don't," Rowley said.