TT Gov't confirms purchase of Toronto building for Cdn$4.25

The government of Trinidad and Tobago has confirmed a story first reported on this blog that it has entered into a purchase agreement to buy a building in Toronto, Canada, to house the Trinidad and Tobago Consulate.

Foreign Affairs Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon told the Trinidad Guardian Sunday the details regarding the deal are accurate.

We reported over the weekend that the sale price for the 16,000-square-foot property, located at 185 Sheppard West, is Can$4.25 million, which is just over TT$23 million. The closing date is later this month.

Gopee-Scoon also confirmed that Government is buying a building in Washington, DC, to house diplomatic staff there. However she said the price is lower than the US$17 million we reported, but did not give a specific cost for the building.

Read the story: T&T buys Toronto building for $4.25M

Gopee-Scoon also told the Guardian Prime Minister Patrick Manning will formally open new consulate offices in New York later this month. She said a new building was bought recently for staff there. It has been refurbished and already in use.

The story has generated some angry reaction from readers. Here are some comments from the Trinidad Guardian:

"Do you know what $4.25 million Canadian can purchase? Are you kidding? The pricey multi-million dollars condos on Bay St. don't cost that much. Are you buying a whole condo building? Are these prices comparable with Mayfair in London, U.K. Now Washington, that another question?"

"We need to show Team Manning (I refuse to believe all our politicians are 'tarred' with the same brush) that we, as shareholders of Trinbago PLC expect them to account to us for how they are spending our money."

"Being a diplomat in the PNM Administration seems to have its (extreme) perks and appears to be an extension of the wild, extravagant spending spree of "the father of our nation"...There appears to be absolutely no review before these expenditures are committed."

"The PNM is the ultimate price we have to pay because of the state of the opposition. Thanks Panday for this. He should have still been in government, but alas another fight and he lost seats in the government. I remembered when Panday said " I don't have to die in Government". My how things have changed."