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Moonilal first spoke about the property last Thursday in an address to supporters at the anniversary celebration of the People's Partnership.
The housing minister said he was shocked to learn only recently about the purchase agreement in which UDeCOTT made a deal to buy the property and pay in US dollars. The amount, he said, was $US449,500, which is more than TT$3 million.
"What they want a private villa for?" he asked.
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The Express newspaper published an email it said it received from the man who bought the villa in which Calder Hart stated that it was for a manager who had to relocate to Tobago. Hart denied that he bought the property for himself.
Hart's email quote in the Express said: "At no time did I, or any UDeCOTT executive under my supervision use the home while I was chairman. It was not purchased as a vacation home."
The Express said it spoke with Moonilal by phone on Monday and the minister stated that he was shocked to learn that Hart has "resurfaced and appears to have accepted responsibly."
He added, "I am very concerned that there was no Ministerial and Cabinet oversight and multi-million-dollar residence could have been acquired for the use of a middle manager."
Asked about Hart's explanation that the house was bought for a manager's use, Moonilal said "that speaks to the waste, squandermania and mismanagement. I am sure if a manager is required to be in Tobago, a guest house at a much more modest cost could have been found," said Moonilal.
Responding to Rowley's criticisms, Moonilal said he (Rowley) should not be "infantile".
"I was very clear on the platform to indicate that I was reading from the deed and I was giving the names of persons who were witnesses and I called the lawyers of UDeCOTT and also the lawyers from the independent firm, among which Mrs Rowley is an attorney involved," said Moonilal.
He also commented on a statement made by opposition leader Keith Rowley that Moonilal was out of line to call the name of Rowley's wife in the matter. Sharon Rowley was the lawyer who signed the deed.
Moonilal made it clear when he mentioned her name to state that he understood her role was a professional one and he did not wish to suggest that there was anything improper in the matter. However Rowley was offended and suggested tom Moonilal that he shouldm "leave my wife out".
Monilal said people in public life cannot take "an infantile approach about don't call my name, or don't call my wife name or don't call the name of my dog, it doesn't work so."
Moonilal said his wife is also an attorney who works in the Public Administration Ministry.
"Several PNM Ministers then would make reference to her work and her affiliation, I had no hard feelings, because she was working in a Government Ministry, so when someone is an attorney at law conducting business it is obvious their name would appear in documents," said Moonilal.
The Express newspaper published an email it said it received from the man who bought the villa in which Calder Hart stated that it was for a manager who had to relocate to Tobago. Hart denied that he bought the property for himself.
Hart's email quote in the Express said: "At no time did I, or any UDeCOTT executive under my supervision use the home while I was chairman. It was not purchased as a vacation home."
The Express said it spoke with Moonilal by phone on Monday and the minister stated that he was shocked to learn that Hart has "resurfaced and appears to have accepted responsibly."
He added, "I am very concerned that there was no Ministerial and Cabinet oversight and multi-million-dollar residence could have been acquired for the use of a middle manager."
Asked about Hart's explanation that the house was bought for a manager's use, Moonilal said "that speaks to the waste, squandermania and mismanagement. I am sure if a manager is required to be in Tobago, a guest house at a much more modest cost could have been found," said Moonilal.
Responding to Rowley's criticisms, Moonilal said he (Rowley) should not be "infantile".
"I was very clear on the platform to indicate that I was reading from the deed and I was giving the names of persons who were witnesses and I called the lawyers of UDeCOTT and also the lawyers from the independent firm, among which Mrs Rowley is an attorney involved," said Moonilal.
He also commented on a statement made by opposition leader Keith Rowley that Moonilal was out of line to call the name of Rowley's wife in the matter. Sharon Rowley was the lawyer who signed the deed.
Moonilal made it clear when he mentioned her name to state that he understood her role was a professional one and he did not wish to suggest that there was anything improper in the matter. However Rowley was offended and suggested tom Moonilal that he shouldm "leave my wife out".
Monilal said people in public life cannot take "an infantile approach about don't call my name, or don't call my wife name or don't call the name of my dog, it doesn't work so."
Moonilal said his wife is also an attorney who works in the Public Administration Ministry.
"Several PNM Ministers then would make reference to her work and her affiliation, I had no hard feelings, because she was working in a Government Ministry, so when someone is an attorney at law conducting business it is obvious their name would appear in documents," said Moonilal.
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