The Sunday Express named the the two companies as Steel Structures Ltd and Scaffolding and Civil Engineering Services Ltd.
The paper quoted NCC chairman Kenny De Silva as saying that because time was short his board had to rely on the advice of professionals in the Works Ministry. "The board was appointed in December, there was not much time for the opening and selection process of tender," he told the paper.
De Silva, who held the same position previously under the Manning PNM administration, said: "The NCC, along with technical people from the respective Ministry, went along with Scaffolding since they put up the stand for the past four years," he said.
"We listened to the people with more oversight and that is the Ministry of Works and Transport," he said.
De Silva told the people he is pleased with the speed and efficiency on the project. He explained that the North Stand is already 98 per cent complete and cost $11-$12 million. He said the other structure is 80 80 per cent complete and has so far cost $40 million.
Both stands are expected to be handed over to the NCC on February 10 and will be the permanent structures for Carnival. "They will come in on time and almost within budget," he said.
Former Works Minister Colm Imbert is not satisfied with the NCC's explanation of the how the contracts were awarded.
"No one at the Ministry of Works and Transport could tell them who to appoint. The NCC is a separate and apart entity and while they could engage the Ministry to evaluate the construction, it is a bit strange that they taking advice from them on who to use," Imbert told the Express.
"It may turn out that everything is above-board, but I still find it very peculiar," he said.
The Express said it was unable to get a comment from the current Works Ministers, Jack Warner, who is out of the country.
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