The paper said Maharaj "has landed himself in a dilemma" regarding the award of contracts at the AATT.
It added that it has obtained correspondence sent to the Prime Minister by Bajnath with a list of ‘special requests’ that Maharaj made to him.
The Guardian said it interviewed the minister who admitted that he did discuss some of the ‘special requests’ with Bajnath.
The paper said the matter concerned the award of contracts and the short-listing of people to be hired at the AATT and that Maharaj also tried to get Bajnath’s appointment revoked following a vote of no-confidence against him on October 21.
Maharaj wrote to Bajnath on October 31 informing him that a copy of the resolution was sent to Attorney General Anand Ramlogan for direction on the matter, the Guardian stated, noting that it has seen correspondence on this.
It added that Bajnath "chastised Maharaj for not affording him the opportunity to respond to the ‘baseless allegations’ before the matter engaged the attention of the Attorney General".
It said the rift between AATT board members was due to political interference and meddling. The paper quoted Bajnath's letter as stating: “The present wrangling and disruptive behaviour of members of the board is directly linked to the carrying out of the directions and desires of your office.”
The Guardian said Bajnath's letter to the Prime Minister denied that he failed to carry out instructions and listed several occasions where he allegedly fulfilled the minister’s ‘special requests’:
- Request: Favourable consideration for Bridgcom Ltd with respect to a three-year contract for grass cutting of the airfield, maintenance of the drains and fence line at the Piarco International Airport
- Action: At a July 2011 meeting, the board of the AATT awarded the contract to Bridgecom Ltd in the sum of $2,156,189 plus VAT per annum for three years for the grass cutting of the airfield, maintenance of the drains and fence line at the Piarco International Airport
- Request: Favourable consideration for attorney Jagdeo Singh of Fortis Chambers to receive AATT Oropune legal portfolio
- Action: At the September 2011 board meeting, the appointment of Jagdeo Singh, Fortis Chambers to provide professional services in settling the legal issues associated with the relocation of the Oropune villagers
- Request: Human Resources consultant to remain on a month-to-month contract.
- Action: Members were advised at the August 2011 board meeting that the decision of the board taken to with respect to the renewal of a one-year contract for the human resource consultant will revert to a month-to-month contract on the basis that the potentially new appointee to the position of human resource manager possessed the capabilities and experience to address industrial relations issues
- Request: Favourable consideration be given to three specific attorneys for the vacant positions within the AATT Legal Department
- Action: The positions were publicly advertised, and the recommended people were shortlisted in preparation for the interview process.
- Request: Removal of board member Diane Hadad as chairman of the Business Development Committee (BDC) and or termination decision and instructing management to halt negotiations with various concessionaires in the absence of board approval. In addition, you advised that negotiations must continue with potential concessionaires.
- Action: The BDC was immediately disbanded on the basis that the decisions taken with respect to the halting of negotiations with concessionaires were not in the interest of the authority nor was it approved by the board. Additionally, while the committee was established by the board, no terms of reference were documented and items discussed overlapped with the business of the operations committee. Furthermore, negotiations with the following concessionaires resumed without delay
The paper said Maharaj also stated that he did not refer the confidence matter to the AG. It quoted Maharaj as saying: “No, no, it is not true I have not referred the matter to the Attorney General.”
The Guardian, however, insisted that it has seen the correspondence referring the matter to the AG.
The paper said Maharaj also commented on the matter of giving directives to Bajnath with respect to Brigdecom.
It quoted the minister as saying: “I have a letter from Bridgecom Ltd stating that they have some concerns with the tendering process. In terms of Mr Bajnath, I spoke to him identifying the concern of this person who tendered and that he should review the tender process if indeed the allegations made by Bridgcom is correct."
The paper said Maharaj added that the board found some problems with the evaluation criteria of "that particular contract", which eventually went to the lowest bidder.
Maharaj also explained the matter relating to attorney Jagdeo Singh.
“There was issue regarding the brief from the previous attorney amounting to $1.8 million or $2 million dollars. It was felt that that price was exceptionally high for the brief.
"I asked them to look around for other attorneys and my experience with Mr Singh is that he is reasonable; we are ensuring that we get value for money and not exorbitant legal fees,” Maharaj said.
The minister said he had no knowledge of the matter the month to month contract for the human resource consultant.
The Guardian reported that the minister denied that he requested the removal of the BDC chairman.
“Only recently, I was in Tobago with Ms Hadad; we have a good relationship. This issue with the BDC is one that troubled Mr Bajnath because he felt it was impeding some of the work he wanted to do in regard to the concessionaires. He identified that negotiations had halted because of the BDC.
The Guardian, however, insisted that it has seen the correspondence referring the matter to the AG.
The paper said Maharaj also commented on the matter of giving directives to Bajnath with respect to Brigdecom.
It quoted the minister as saying: “I have a letter from Bridgecom Ltd stating that they have some concerns with the tendering process. In terms of Mr Bajnath, I spoke to him identifying the concern of this person who tendered and that he should review the tender process if indeed the allegations made by Bridgcom is correct."
The paper said Maharaj added that the board found some problems with the evaluation criteria of "that particular contract", which eventually went to the lowest bidder.
Maharaj also explained the matter relating to attorney Jagdeo Singh.
“There was issue regarding the brief from the previous attorney amounting to $1.8 million or $2 million dollars. It was felt that that price was exceptionally high for the brief.
"I asked them to look around for other attorneys and my experience with Mr Singh is that he is reasonable; we are ensuring that we get value for money and not exorbitant legal fees,” Maharaj said.
The minister said he had no knowledge of the matter the month to month contract for the human resource consultant.
The Guardian reported that the minister denied that he requested the removal of the BDC chairman.
“Only recently, I was in Tobago with Ms Hadad; we have a good relationship. This issue with the BDC is one that troubled Mr Bajnath because he felt it was impeding some of the work he wanted to do in regard to the concessionaires. He identified that negotiations had halted because of the BDC.
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