UNC calls for general election over UDeCOTT

The Chairman of the United National Congress (UNC) on Sunday urged Prime Minister Patrick Manning to call a general election right away and face the electorate on corruption and the UDeCOTT affair.

Jack Warner made the statement in response to the resignation of Calder Hart as Chairman of UDeCOTT, the Urban development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago, and from other state boards.

In a media release, Warner said: "The government must face the electorate on this issue. The nation must be given an opportunity to decide on this issue which has plagued a country in dire need of change."

Warner also called for the resignation of UDeCOTT's line minister, Emily Gaynor Dick-Forde, and every member of the UDeCOTT board. He said if they do not leave voluntarily, they should be dismissed forthwith.

And the UNC Chairman called for a forensic audit and investigation of every project handled by UDeCOTT and its affiliates.

Noting that it was vigilance by the UNC that led to the Uff commission of inquiry into UDeCOTT and the construction sector, Warner demanded that the report of the probe be laid in Parliament and that it be debated "in the public glare forthwith."

He added, "A copy of this report must be delivered to the Director of Public Prosecutions in order to ensure that the relevant criminal proceedings are initiated.

"The very disturbing allegations of corruption against UDECOTT must be thoroughly investigated."

He called Hart's departure a victory for every citizen of the country.

"Almost every civic minded citizen has called for Mr Hart's resignation, but for months the Prime Minister paid no heed. In fact, PM Manning had publicly defended the UDECOTT Chairman. The will of the people has finally prevailed," he said.

The Chaguanas West MP also urged the Trinidad and Tobago authorities to ensure that no one who might be implicated in the UDeCOTT affair escapes justice.

"The Government and Immigration authorities must also ensure that no individual involved or implicated in the report is allowed to flee our shores or if, having fled, extradition arrangements be initiated with haste, to have such individual be brought back to face justice", he said.