Integrity Commission asked UDeCOTT for documents on Integrity Commission

The integrity Commission has given UDeCOTT 14 days to submit all vital information about the involvement of its former executive chairman Calder Hart in the construction of the controversial $30M church in the Heights of Guanapo.

The letter sent to UDeCOTT on June 22 asked UDeCOTT to supply the following information about whether UDeCOTT is involved in any way in the construction of the church and if so, to provide documents showing "any decision taken by the Board or its former Chairman Mr Calder Hart to support UDeCOTT’s involvement in the construction of the church..."

The letter said it needs the requested information to determine if there have been any breaches of the anti-corruption act of whether there was any corrupt or dishonest conduct.

UDeCOTT has previously issued a statement denying any involvement in the church.
However, correspondence from the architect for the building was sent to Hart to him in his capacity as chairman of UDeCOTT and mailed to UDeCOTT's head office.

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan told the Newsday newspaper Saturday he is "extremely pleased" that the Integrity Commission "is advancing and stepping up the pace of these investigations and hope that the relevant agencies give them their fullest support and cooperation."

And acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams has issued instructions to police to arrest persons removing items from the construction site.

Last Thursday the dome of the church collapsed, injuring two men who had gone inside to scavenge for materials. Since then more looters have carried away material from the site.

Police have charged two persons with unlawful possession of material taken from the church site. Two weeks ago police searched the offices of the Shanghai Corporation in Port-of-Spain and seized plans for the Prime Minister’s residence and the church at the Heights of Guanapo.

Shanghai was building the church but abandoned the project just before the May 24 general election.

There is also a police investigation of the project. One invetigator on the case has said so far there is no evidence that public funds were used to finance the church.