PM produces the evidence to show house cost $3M, not $150M as claimed by Manning

Comparing "Palace" - Top Photo: The PM's official residence and diplomatic centre; Below, PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar's houe under construction

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has told the Sunday Guardian the house that she is building in south Trinidad is not worth the $150 million as claimed by former Prime Minister Patrick Manning.

And she is offering to sell the property to Manning for $30 million.

Manning told the House of Representatives Friday the house - which he described as Kamla's Palace - is bigger than the $175 million PM's residence and diplomatic centre and is valued at $150 million.

However in an interview with the Guardian Persad-Bissessar said Manning is trying to create "mischief".

“Who would believe a house could cost $150 million. In fact, if he gives me $30 million for the house right now I would sell it to him. He does not have to worry about the balance. Give me $30 million now and take it...

“It is totally false and designed to bring me into disrepute. So far, I have only spent $3 million on that house; to complete it may cost around $500,000,” she told the paper.

The Guardian said its own research has shown that the house at Phillipine has been under construction since 2002 on a three-acre parcel of land.

"The building comprises six bedrooms, inclusive of a master suite, five bathrooms, kitchen, dinning room, living room, two study rooms, laundry room, porch and a splash pool," the paper reported.

The paper said two one-acre parcels of the land were bought in 1990 for $85,000 an acre from former assistant Transport Commissioner, Walter Archibald. A third parcel was bought five years later from Keith Lutchmansingh for $110,000.

The Guardian also found evidence of the transfer of the deeds, quoting the deed numbers and the dates of the transfer of the lands.

Persad-Bissessar confirmed the information in the interview with the Guardian. “I have my deeds as proof when I purchased the parcels of land. I challenge Mr Manning to make those statements out of Parliament. Desperate people do desperate things,” she said.

Persad-Bissessar further revealed that on March 5, 2001 she got approval for construction of a dwelling house. The approval came from retired certified engineer, Vasco Lorielle and building inspector, A Beux.

She said the San Fernando City Corporation granted further approval on April 8, 2002. “At all times materials, all assets, income, liabilities have been declared on my Integrity In Public Life forms, including the land and building,” the Prime Minister said.

Persad-Bissessar also produced utility bills to prove that she has legal water and electricity connections. The Guardian said she showed the bills - account numbers—798571-697073 for T&TEC and 0378970e for WASA.

“I have a copy of a WASA bill in my possession right now. If I had an illegal connection would I be able to pay my bills?

"My husband Gregory has been a doctor for over 30 years and I am an attorney for over 25 years, we have sacrificed and worked hard for what we want. It is our hard earned income over the last years that is being used to build that house.

"If Mr Manning did not call snap election construction would have been continuing still. It is totally offensive because it did not happen overnight; not in six months... It is mischief,” she said.