The Trinidad Express reported Friday that Calder Hart, chairman of the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT), helped organize professional services relating to the design of the Lighthouse of the Lord Jesus Christ Church at the Heights of Guanapo, Arima.Quoting "unimpeachable sources", the paper said around 2005, Hart, acting in a private capacity, mobilised a number of consultants to do design work for the church, including architect Stephen Mendes, who did the work for free.
It said it was unable to contact Mendes, who designed the Government campus, a UDeCOTT project.
The Express said its sources have also said that Hart approached a company called Consulting Engineering Partnership (CEP) and asked it for help with the structural drawings and structural designs for the church.
The report stated that Hart wanted it done without charge but CEP requested "a nominal fee" for the work. It said the company told the Express it has no comment to make on the matter.
The Express said another consulting firm was Engineering Consultants (Enco), adding that Enco official Frank Teeleucksingh confirmed that Enco did the electrical and mechanical designs for free.
"We don’t charge for churches generally. We are very sympathetic to churches," the paper quoted Teelucksingh as saying. It Teelcuksingh stated that Mendes asked for help with the church, noting that Enco does a lot of work with Mendes.
The Express said it was unable to reach Hart through UDeCOTT’s corporate communications manager, Roxanne Stapleton-Whyms.
Shanghai Construction, which is building the church, has done extensive work for the State, with contract figures exceeding $1 billion. All its projects are under UDeCOTT management.
Some of the Shanghai projects include the prime minister’s residence, the National Academies of Performing Arts in Port of Spain and San Fernando and the executive jet facility at Piarco.
The company will also be constructing the Carnival Centre in Port of Spain, according to information from Prime Minister Patrick Manning.
Works Minister Colm Imbert doesn't know how Shanghai became involved in building the church.
He told reporters Thursday, "That information would be known by the owners of the church...That question is best directed to the incorporators of that church because they hired the contractor."
He added that as far as he knows, his ministry has not approved engineering works for the church but explained that it may not have been necessary for such approvals from his ministry.
1 comment:
I would just like to state here that nothing is free, this in my view is but simply a kick back for being the preferred contractor. God and the prophetess alone knows what else is being done with our money.
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