Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar told the media Saturday Works and Transport minister Jack Warner didn't break any law when he signed off on two airport contracts.
That position has been reinforced by an independent legal opinion obtained by the Airports authority of Trinidad and Tobago (AATT).
That position has been reinforced by an independent legal opinion obtained by the Airports authority of Trinidad and Tobago (AATT).
Apart from confirming that Warner acted within his legal and constitutional authority, the legal opinion noted that if the minister did not act as he did he could have faced a challenge "by way of a judicial review".
The report from the firm Mair and Company of 50 Richmond Street, Port of Spain and was sent by hand on Friday to Hayden Newton, Corporate Secretary at the AATT.
Read the report: Jack acted legally and responsibly in awarding airports contracts: Independent legal opinion
Speaking with reporters on her return home from London, Persad-Bissessar said, “The process was not followed...In the interest of transparency and accountability I believed the contract should have been rescinded."
She stated that she had concerns about the contracts and indicated that they should be reviewed even before the matter "came into the public domain".
Shortly before leaving for London the Prime Minister had asked for a review of both contracts. Warner complied and decided that the contracts would have to be re tendered.
She confirmed that. "To the best of my knowledge, the contract has been rescinded. The way is now clear for transparency, accountability for it to be re-tendered and we go forward...the good thing is that it was pulled back before it went any further," Persad-Bissessar said.
She also explained that there is no requirement in law that the Cabinet must be informed when a contract is being awarded.
In addition to asking for the two contracts to be re tendered Warner also inistructed the AATT not to award a multi-million-dollar contract for the Crown Point Airport in Tobago.
Read the story: Jack revokes contract to pave Tobago airport
Reporters pressed Persad-Bissessar about problems within her People's Partnership government. She was emphatic that her government is sound and that despite certain media reports and public comments, the government will not be rattled or fall.
“Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. We all have difference of opinions; even a husband and wife have differences. I think the rumblings taking place is as a result of the internal election campaigns,” the Prime Minister said.
That was a reference to the Congress of the People (COP), which is one of the five members of the People's Partnership. COP has six cabinet posts. The party is holding its internal election Sunday.
During the campaign for the election members running for executive positions made public comments saying that the COP is not getting a fair deal in the partnership and used the state board appointments to illustrate their point.
However, COP's Carloyn Seepersad-Bachan, who is the Energy Minister, set the records straight on that.
"What we have always preached is that we will put the right people in the right positions,” she emphasised.. We must ensure professionalism, competence, experience and maturity to meet the complex challenges of some of the agencies to which we have made board appointments," Seepersad-Bachan said at a COP campaign meeting last week.
Read the story: Seepersad-Bachan defends PP, tells COP she stands behind cabinet on board appointments
Reporters asked specifically about a comment from Warner about "unexpected intrigue, infighting and backbiting" among members of the coalition. She said every member of the Partnership is entitled to have his or her own views and opinions regarding issues, and that would be respected.
"Mr Warner is entitled to his view, I am not of that view. I do not share that view I do believe the partnership is working very well and we have different opinions. We are human beings and have different opinions," she said.
she said the diversity within the People's Partnership is what makes it strong and she had this declaration: "The government is not going to collapse...We are not going to collapse."
She admitted that there people have many different opinions. However she is certian that those conflicting opinions will not "bring down this government."
She added, "We will not allow this Government to be brought down. There is tremendous optimism from what we have seen being out there and being abroad, in Trinidad and Tobago and we are going to pursue those agendas," she said.
Reporters asked specifically about a comment from Warner about "unexpected intrigue, infighting and backbiting" among members of the coalition. She said every member of the Partnership is entitled to have his or her own views and opinions regarding issues, and that would be respected.
"Mr Warner is entitled to his view, I am not of that view. I do not share that view I do believe the partnership is working very well and we have different opinions. We are human beings and have different opinions," she said.
she said the diversity within the People's Partnership is what makes it strong and she had this declaration: "The government is not going to collapse...We are not going to collapse."
She admitted that there people have many different opinions. However she is certian that those conflicting opinions will not "bring down this government."
She added, "We will not allow this Government to be brought down. There is tremendous optimism from what we have seen being out there and being abroad, in Trinidad and Tobago and we are going to pursue those agendas," she said.
No comments:
Post a Comment