Government says UDeCOTT won't destroy documents

A Trinidad and Tobago government minister on Thursday defended UDeCOTT, the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago, and gave the assurance that the organization won't destroy any documents. UDeCOTT is the subject of a commission of enquiry that does not begin hearings until next year and critics say it has an opportunity to destroy documents that might implicate it.

Information Minister Neil Parsanlal confirmed that no one is shutting the door on UDeCOTT and agreed that members of the organization would have free access to confidential documents that might be detrimental in a public probe.

But he said he is sure UDeCOTT would do "everything in its power" to ensure that its records are preserved and not destroyed.

When reporters asked Parsanlal what assurances he could give the public that records would be preserved, he said: "UDeCOTT has a board of management in place and they would take the necessary steps to do what is necessary to protect their records. No Government minister is going to open or lock doors at UDeCOTT. There is a UDeCOTT board and management and that is their responsibility".

When reporters pointed out that UDeCOTT's Executive Chairman, Calder Hart, was implicated by allegations made in the Parliament, the minister reiterated that the board and management of UDeCOTT has a responsibility to secure records.

And he refused to answer further questions, stating that Planning Minister Dr Emily Gaynor Dick-Forde, who is responsible for UDeCOTT, was not present at the media conference.

UDeCOTT handles major government construction projects worth billions of dollars and came under scrutiny after former cabinet minister questioned why it was building a 60-room hotel without proper authorization from cabinet.

That got Rowley kicked out of government and at the same time opened a Pandora's Box of accusations of impropriety by the organization and its executive chairman.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning refused opposition and independent calls for a public probe for weeks, then changed his mind and announced a wide ranging enquiry into the construction sector to include UDeCOTT.

After a delay of two months government announced this week that a British engineering professor and prominent jurist would head the probe, but there is still no word on the other members.

And in making the announcement in Parliament, House Leader Colm Imbert said the probe would begin hearings in January next year and its report would be due by October next year.

That has caused a storm of anger from opposition and other groups who say government appears to be directing the commission and leaving the door open for UDeCOTT to cover up anything that might implicate it.

Chaguanas MP noted that it was farce to hold the probe so far away when the chairman, Prof. Uff, is known for his style of handling such matters expeditiously.

Keith Rowley, the man in the eye of the storm, noted that it was a "pappyshow" to get a probe started several months after the issue arose. He predicted that the budget would likely throw more money at UDeCOTT.

Health Minister Jerry Narace confirmed Rowley's assertion. He told the media that Cabinet has approved UDeCOTT as the developer for the Point Fortin hospital.

When reporters questioned why cabinet decided on this when there are so many allegations hanging over the organization, Narace informed them that he was not aware of any wrongdoing by the state corporation.

He stressed that under the tenders policy, there was nothing improper about what he, as Minister of Health, was doing.

Reporters also wanted to know why UDeCOTT's boss was present at the recent PNM convention.

Parsanlal tersely informed reporters that matters relating to the PNM convention are not discussed at the Cabinet and therefore were irrelevant at a media conference to discuss cabinet decisions.

Rules relating to certain appointments to state boards clearly state that appointees must not have political connections. Hart is head of at least one state organization that requires that the holder of that position be independent.