The government of Trinidad and Tobago spent just under a half a million dollars on the grand opening ceremony of the overpass at the site of the Churchill-Roosevelt/Uriah Butler Interchange.Works Minister Colm Imbert told the Senate Tuesday the exact figure was $425,599. But he justified the cost by comparing the expenditure for the opening ceremony of the new Piarco International Airport terminal in 2001.
Imbert said $190,300 was spent on confetti and flags, inclusive of equipment, manpower, installation and supervision.National Helicopter Services Ltd charged $2,480 to transport the soca artistes.
"By contrast, Mr President, the cost of the opening ceremony for the new Piarco Airport terminal building in 2001 was $2,947,338, of which some $99,715 was spent to buy cocktails for the invited guests and over $2 million was spent by the previous administration on advertising the event," Imbert explained.
Opposition Senator Wade Mark called the comparison "totally irrelevant!"
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