Jack wants answers from Manning about UDeCOTT

Jack Warner went on the warpath against People's National Movement Leader Patrick Manning, accusing the Prime Minister of divisiveness.

Speaking at a political meeting in Barrackpore the UNC chairman demanded that Manning tell the nation what actions his government has taken or will take to implement the recommendations of the Uff Report into UDeCOTT and the construction sector.

Warner outlined some of what the report recommended:

• For the Government Campus Project: there should be an investigation into what steps were taken by UDeCOTT managers to control and reduce delay
• For the Brian Lara project: there should be an investigation into the planning and administration of the whole project including the measures taken by UDeCOTT managers to" (a)control and reduce delay to the project (b) to review and approve the design of the steel superstructure and (c) to consider the advice of Turner Alpha Limited, that the contract with Hafeez Karamath Limited should be terminated
• UDECOTT must recognise that a public perception of secrecy and arrogance has been engendered by its actions, which is wholly inappropriate for a body performing a public function on behalf of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.
• UDECOTT should take and be seen to take remedial action by cultivating a policy of openness aimed at building public confidence in the maintenance of proper standards of integrity and transparency
• There should be a full investigation by an appropriate Law Enforcement Authority into the award of the Ministry of Legal Affairs contract to CH Development, including the role of Mr. Calder Hart and the conduct of the board in not ensuring that an enforceable guarantee was given by the parent company of CH Development
• There should be a full investigation by an appropriate Law Enforcement Authority into the award of packages 3 and 5-8 for the Brian Lara project, particularly as to: (a) why no formal terms were drawn up dealing with advance payments (b) the manner in which UDeCOTT interpreted the right to advance payments including advice sought and received (c) the accounting procedures employed by UDeCOTT for making advance payments and repayments and why no vouched accounts were drawn up
• There should be a full forensic audit of all sums advanced against the value of work and materials provided by HKL and of repayments made on the Brian Lara project
• There should be an audit of the conduct of all UDeCOTT senior staff and directors in the period 2004 to 2009, as to their involvement in errors and omissions concerning the Brian Lara stadium project in respect of which no action was taken by senior staff or by the board.

The consequences of the publication of the Uff Report is the primary reason why Manning dissolved Parliament,Warner charged.

He said the election may have temporarily taken the heat off Calder Hart and added, "We can only imagine how many UDECOTT documents have been shredded and how many foreign banks accounts have had wire transfers."

However he made a pledge to citizens: "I want to give the country the assurance that in a matter of weeks after the election, one way or the other, Calder Hart and Patrick will have to answer questions arising from the Uff Inquiry."