Where is Calder Hart? Legal documents sent to his address have been returned

File: Calder Hart

A report in the Guardian newspaper Sunday said legal authorities have been unable to find Calder Hart, the former executive chairman of the Urban Development Corporation (UDeCOTT).

The paper said civil proceedings documents sent to Hart at his last know address - Unit 701 Las Olas, Grand Private Condominiums, 411 N New River Drive, East Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33301-3176, United States, have been returned to T&T.

His whereabouts are unknown, the paper said, citing an affidavit filed in the Port-of-Spain High Court on June 1. 

On June 5, the High Court cleared the way for Hart to be served outside the jurisdiction of T&T through an order granted by Justice Andre des Vignes.

The Civil Proceedings Rules 1998 requires that originating proceedings be served personally on defendants. However, the affidavit stated that Hart cannot be located. 

The paper said Attorney Christlyn Moore stated that the sudden change of address appears to be a move by Hart to avoid being served with the legal documents outlining a breach of his duty to exercise "skill, care and diligence" in the management of the affairs of UDeCOTT.

The state has taken legal action against Hart with respect to projects he handled including the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium, which was expected to be completed in 2007 at a cost of $272 million. It is still unfinished and the costs have risen to nearly one billion dollars. The present government has said it would take tens of millions more to get the project completed.

The government sent Hart a pre-action protocol letter on October 17, 2011, at the Fort Lauderdale condominium, informing him of plans to initiate the legal proceedings. Hart acknowledged receipt of the and asked for documentation to substantiate the allegations.

Hart resigned on March 6, 2010, and left Trinidad days later. His abrupt action came shortly after Justice Mira Dean-Armorer allowed the Uff Report on UDeCOTT and the construction sector to be made public.

The report called for a police probe into Hart and a full-scale investigation into the awarding of an $885 million contract by UDeCOTT to Malaysian-based CH Development Ltd, now Sunway Construction (Caribbean) Ltd. It also questioned the $368 million awarded to UDeCOTT for construction of the Ministry of Legal Affairs Tower.

Hart held several key positions during the former Manning PNM administration. They included:

• Executive chairman of UDeCOTT
• Chairman, CEO and Managing Director of T&T Mortgage Finance Co Ltd
• Chairman of National Insurance Board
• Director of Home Mortgage Bank
• Chairman of Nipdec