Works and Infrastructure Minister Mr Jack Warner on Thursday suggested to the media that they should do their homework when it comes to reporting on issues such as Inter-Ministerial Committees.
The local media made a big issue of the appointment of such a committee to oversee the $7.2 billion highway to Point Fortin, even suggesting that the idea was hatched to keep checks on Warner, who is himself a member of the committee.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is chairing the committee. Other members are:
The local media made a big issue of the appointment of such a committee to oversee the $7.2 billion highway to Point Fortin, even suggesting that the idea was hatched to keep checks on Warner, who is himself a member of the committee.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar is chairing the committee. Other members are:
- Finance Minister Winston Dookeran
- Minister of Trade and Industry Stephen Cadiz
- Minister of Energy Kelvin Ramnarine
- Minister of Public Utilities Emmanuel George
- Minister of Planning and the Economy Dr Bhoe Tewarie
- The MPs for the areas where the highway passes: Chandresh Sharma, Roodal Moonilal and Stacy Roopnarine
Warner stated such Committees are the norm for big-budget projects to ensure proper oversight and the implementation of the project as it relates to funding, quality metrics and time.
He said some of the media reports indicating that there was more to the matter, were untrue.
Speaking at the post cabinet media briefing, Warner said: "One gets the impression that this is a novel idea. Never happened before. Never, ever happened before and poor Jack Warner."
Speaking at the post cabinet media briefing, Warner said: "One gets the impression that this is a novel idea. Never happened before. Never, ever happened before and poor Jack Warner."
He added, "Well first of all, Jack Warner remains undisturbed and unperturbed by what is the norm because previous Governments will show that when they were buying the water taxi, there was an Inter Ministerial Committee for that as well.
"There was an Inter Ministerial Committee for construction. There was one for energy." He said has done the research for the media to point out that "a Committee of this nature, an oversight committee, is nothing new. It is the norm."
The minister also revealed that Cabinet has agreed to allocate nearly 200 acres of land at Hermitage for the relocation of 300 households from Debe to Point Fortin.
"In addition to the 300 households, the Cabinet also agreed to the relocation of 30 active farmers from Debe to Point Fortin. They have also considered the relocation of approximately 70 squatters and 10 elderly, sick persons in the La Romaine, Debe area," Warner said.
The minister also revealed that Cabinet has agreed to allocate nearly 200 acres of land at Hermitage for the relocation of 300 households from Debe to Point Fortin.
"In addition to the 300 households, the Cabinet also agreed to the relocation of 30 active farmers from Debe to Point Fortin. They have also considered the relocation of approximately 70 squatters and 10 elderly, sick persons in the La Romaine, Debe area," Warner said.
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