Shanghai Construction under police probe on UDeCOTT contracts

Police are conducting investigations into eight projects that has been undertaken by the Shanghai Construction Group (SCG). UDeCOTT handed all the contracts to the Chinese construction firm.The projects under investigation are:

• The Lighthouse of Our Lord Jesus Christ church, Cemetery Street, Heights of Guanapo
• The Prime Minister’s Residence and Diplomatic Centre
• The National Academy of the Performing Arts, Port-of-Spain
• The National Academy of the Performing Arts, San Fernando
• The Ministry of Education Tower, Port-of-Sp and ain
• The Police Barracks, St James
• The South Terminal of Piarco International Airport.

The head of the Fraud Squad led a team of investigators to UDeCOTT’s administrative offices in Port of Spain Friday and seized documents relating to the projects and transported them to the Fraud Squad head office.

The warrant the officers executed for the search gave police the authority to search for documents issued by UDeCOTT going back to 2005.

The Newsday newspaper reported Saturday that its sources have said preliminary findings indicate that billions of taxpayers dollars may have been siphoned off in the award of the contracts by UDeCOTT.

UDeCOTT chairman Jearlean John confirmed the police action and told the paper the special services company will abide by the rules and "comply with the authorities".

UDeCOTT's former executive director Calder Hart is also under police investigation but officers have said they don't know where to find him.

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan is on record as saying there was “rampant corruption” at UDeCOTT. An audit has been ordered of all UDeCOTT's projects.