UNC-A wants public inquiry of UDeCOTT

The Opposition UNC-A will file a motion Thursday with the Speaker of the House of Representatives calling for a commission of inquiry into the operations of UDeCOTT, the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago headed by Calder Hart.

Opposition Chief Whip Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj hopes the House would discuss the motion during Friday’s sitting.

UDeCOTT has been put under a microscope since Prime Minister Patrick since Prime Minister Patrick Manning fired Trade and Industry Minister Keith Rowley last week over an alleged “cussout” at a Cabinet sub-committee meeting that was discussing one of UDeCOTT projects in Port of Spain.

Maharaj said the motion would call on Manning to set up a public inquiry "into the serious allegations of corruption and wrongdoing and the failure by UDeCOTT to follow fair tendering procedures between 2002 to present."

His parliamentary colleague, Jack Warner, has also called for an inquiry. In a release Wednesday, Warner questioned the legality of Calder Hart's appointment as the head of both UDeCOTT and the National Insurance Board, noting that Hart was not eligible to head the NIB.

Read the story: Warner wants Calder Hart fired

But there’s no guarantee that Maharaj’s motion would be allowed. In any case Manning has already stated that there will be no investigation of the UDeCOTT. So even if the House debates the motion the government would use its strong majority to defeat it.

Still, Maharaj is pressing the point. He told the media he is not convinced that the Government is committed to openness, transparency and accountability in public office, accusing it of "burying serious allegations of corruption which had so far resulted in billions of taxpayers dollars being given away."

He also called on the Attorney General to investigate the allegations of corruption and report the findings to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the police. He said the holder of this office has a constitutional responsibility to protect the public interest.

Maharaj said he believes the situation at UDeCOTT is serious enough for the Auditor General, Commissioner of Police and Director of Public Prosecutions to demonstrate their independence and launch inquiries into the conduct of UDeCOTT and its officials from 1995 to date.

Read related story: Calder Hart has too much power: critics

He said public accountability and political justice for the people demand that the Government appoint a commission of inquiry comprising delegates from the Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute, the business community and trade unions.

The former Attorney General said if allegations made by Rowley are true there is a strong possibility that UDeCOTT officials might have criminal misconduct in office and that billions of taxpayers’ dollars have been spent in illegitimate ways. UDeCOTT spends about 30 per cent of the national budget on projects.