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The minister told the Express newspaper state funds will not be used for the proposed project. "Government's only obligation to the enterprise is that of a facilitator," he said.
Diego Martin North-East MP Colm Imbert raised the issue on Friday in the House of Representatives, noting the details of the transit proposal were in a print advertisement in which the Transport Ministry invited expressions of interest for "the design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of a light transit system from Port of Spain to Arima to be constructed approximately 4.2 metres above the Bus Route".
Imbert stated that the one month given for submission of proposals is too short for such a complex project and suggested that the ministry might have breached the Central Tenders Board ordinance.
However in an interview with the Express on Saturday Maharaj said Imbert was "fundamentally wrong". He added that the former Works Minister is "accustomed to PNMsquandermania and assumes that all others (would) follow the same level of reckless spending that is the watermark of the PNM".
The paper said Maharaj explained that the expression of interest was for the first phase for securing the particular project and will be followed up by detailed requests for proposals that will carry the entire process "well beyond two months".
"The Government of Trinidad and Tobago is not purchasing any article of work or any service," Maharaj stressed. He also said this is not a tendering process.
"Imbert's reckless, uninformed statement is fundamentally flawed in the interpretation of the nature, extent and purport of the Central Tenders Board Act," he added.
Maharaj said the public, private, partnership model does not put public funds at risk. If the venture fails, it is the commercial entity that fails, he explained.
Diego Martin North-East MP Colm Imbert raised the issue on Friday in the House of Representatives, noting the details of the transit proposal were in a print advertisement in which the Transport Ministry invited expressions of interest for "the design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of a light transit system from Port of Spain to Arima to be constructed approximately 4.2 metres above the Bus Route".
Imbert stated that the one month given for submission of proposals is too short for such a complex project and suggested that the ministry might have breached the Central Tenders Board ordinance.
However in an interview with the Express on Saturday Maharaj said Imbert was "fundamentally wrong". He added that the former Works Minister is "accustomed to PNMsquandermania and assumes that all others (would) follow the same level of reckless spending that is the watermark of the PNM".
The paper said Maharaj explained that the expression of interest was for the first phase for securing the particular project and will be followed up by detailed requests for proposals that will carry the entire process "well beyond two months".
"The Government of Trinidad and Tobago is not purchasing any article of work or any service," Maharaj stressed. He also said this is not a tendering process.
"Imbert's reckless, uninformed statement is fundamentally flawed in the interpretation of the nature, extent and purport of the Central Tenders Board Act," he added.
Maharaj said the public, private, partnership model does not put public funds at risk. If the venture fails, it is the commercial entity that fails, he explained.
In addition, he said government would review the fees charged for use the system to prevent exploitation.
The previous government spent US$75 million for a pre-feasibility study done while Imbert was in charge of the ministry of works and transport.
The previous government spent US$75 million for a pre-feasibility study done while Imbert was in charge of the ministry of works and transport.
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