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Author Topic: COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY SITTINGS  (Read 4547 times)

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Offline ann3boys

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COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY SITTINGS
« on: January 26, 2009, 07:39:12 AM »
for those interested the commission of enquiry into the construction sector and UdeCOTT is underway and with live streaming from 9am to 4pm on
www.constructionenquiry.gov.tt
very informative

Offline Brownsugar

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Re: COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY SITTINGS
« Reply #1 on: January 26, 2009, 04:16:56 PM »
I just took a peep...nice....

I took some of it about 2 Fridays ago...interesting....it has revealed so far (among other things) that apparently any and every body could be COO of UDECOTT.  That Rampaul girl kept looking like a deer in headlights when being questioned...

"...If yuh clothes tear up
Or yuh shoes burst off,
You could still jump up when music play.
Old lady, young baby, everybody could dingolay...
Dingolay, ay, ay, ay ay,
Dingolay ay, ay, ay..."

RIP Shadow....The legend will live on in music...

Offline weary1969

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Re: COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY SITTINGS
« Reply #2 on: January 26, 2009, 05:52:11 PM »
A waste of taxpayers money when have COE have saw any positive change.
Today you're the dog, tomorrow you're the hydrant - so be good to others - it comes back!"

Offline ann3boys

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Re: COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY SITTINGS
« Reply #3 on: January 27, 2009, 07:10:10 AM »
Yes, Ms. Rampaul looks like the scapegoat for UdeCott, but then again, she only joined in 2006, after a lot of the sheenanigans got started...

while I agree that COEs do not achieve anything 'usually' this time it is uncovering so much mud- and it is in the public domain. I think this is the first time there is live streaming, and transcripts available to the public. a good step in transparency..

nothing like being in the full glare of public scrutiny..

Offline Brownsugar

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Re: COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY SITTINGS
« Reply #4 on: January 27, 2009, 07:17:53 AM »
Just took a better look....they have a discussion forum and everything....very, very impressive....whomever is responsible for setting this up should take a bow....

Now we just every other aspect of the public service to come into the 21st century.....easier said than done....
"...If yuh clothes tear up
Or yuh shoes burst off,
You could still jump up when music play.
Old lady, young baby, everybody could dingolay...
Dingolay, ay, ay, ay ay,
Dingolay ay, ay, ay..."

RIP Shadow....The legend will live on in music...

Offline ann3boys

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Re: COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY SITTINGS
« Reply #5 on: January 27, 2009, 11:19:53 AM »
check it out- today Mr. Calder Hart himself is being questioned
...kicks for so... ;D

Offline Brownsugar

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Re: COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY SITTINGS
« Reply #6 on: January 27, 2009, 07:29:33 PM »
check it out- today Mr. Calder Hart himself is being questioned
...kicks for so... ;D

Ah cyar follow it from work and ah getting home too late to catch the news....I'll check the website/next days newspapers to catch up, but ah hear today Calder Hart point out 2 Ministers who allegedly gave him permission to break rules in terms of financial accounting??

Ah eh get the full story/full line of questioning.....
"...If yuh clothes tear up
Or yuh shoes burst off,
You could still jump up when music play.
Old lady, young baby, everybody could dingolay...
Dingolay, ay, ay, ay ay,
Dingolay ay, ay, ay..."

RIP Shadow....The legend will live on in music...

Offline Brownsugar

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Re: COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY SITTINGS
« Reply #7 on: January 28, 2009, 07:16:40 AM »
......correction I can see the stream  :)....like IT eh know, normally we can't see streaming video/conten like you tube from work......
"...If yuh clothes tear up
Or yuh shoes burst off,
You could still jump up when music play.
Old lady, young baby, everybody could dingolay...
Dingolay, ay, ay, ay ay,
Dingolay ay, ay, ay..."

RIP Shadow....The legend will live on in music...

Offline ann3boys

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Re: COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY SITTINGS
« Reply #8 on: January 28, 2009, 10:40:05 AM »
yes girl, apparently 'either Enill or Sahadeo?" man say he can't remember which one- said that he has some 'lattitude' in following the tender rules as set out in the tender board act, because they Udecott- had written their own set of rules... or something like that- I think
somehow you have to listen to all the answers before you can make some sense of it..

anhow this is very entertaining and gives a good peek at how business works in this beautiful island ;D

Offline dcs

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Re: COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY SITTINGS
« Reply #9 on: January 28, 2009, 08:08:45 PM »

Damn I didn't know this thing was online LIVE during the questioning.
It go probably be long and boring with a lot of fluff before they get to the meaty stuff but the fact that it have regular citizens watching every detail of this thing mean it have no way anybody could try and skew what took place.

Offline Brownsugar

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Re: COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY SITTINGS
« Reply #10 on: January 29, 2009, 05:57:07 AM »

Damn I didn't know this thing was online LIVE during the questioning.
It go probably be long and boring with a lot of fluff before they get to the meaty stuff but the fact that it have regular citizens watching every detail of this thing mean it have no way anybody could try and skew what took place.
Just listen when Keith Rowley's lawyer Mr. Preston and Mr. Israel Khan questioning people....dais when the fire works does start.... :devil:
"...If yuh clothes tear up
Or yuh shoes burst off,
You could still jump up when music play.
Old lady, young baby, everybody could dingolay...
Dingolay, ay, ay, ay ay,
Dingolay ay, ay, ay..."

RIP Shadow....The legend will live on in music...

Offline weary1969

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Re: COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY SITTINGS
« Reply #11 on: January 29, 2009, 07:41:44 PM »
Nuff fireworks
Today you're the dog, tomorrow you're the hydrant - so be good to others - it comes back!"

Offline Brownsugar

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Re: COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY SITTINGS
« Reply #12 on: February 04, 2009, 08:09:59 AM »
They start back today....Hafeez Karamath on the stand right now...and he eh sounding too convincing....
"...If yuh clothes tear up
Or yuh shoes burst off,
You could still jump up when music play.
Old lady, young baby, everybody could dingolay...
Dingolay, ay, ay, ay ay,
Dingolay ay, ay, ay..."

RIP Shadow....The legend will live on in music...

Offline Brownsugar

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Re: COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY SITTINGS
« Reply #13 on: May 12, 2009, 05:09:04 AM »
This start back yesterday and then the lawyers for UDECOTT apparently file something in Court for judicial review asking that the Attorneys at the proceedings be protected from being sued in the future for defamation or slander or things of that nature...so the proceedings stop till that sorted out....

Again I say.... ??? :-\
What de hell dat mean??  If yuh making statements or presenting facts before a court or Commission of Enquiry, isn't it understood that these items are factual?

So what defamation or slander dem worried about??....sssstteeeuuupppssss!!!..

"Fool is wha dey take we for......"
"...If yuh clothes tear up
Or yuh shoes burst off,
You could still jump up when music play.
Old lady, young baby, everybody could dingolay...
Dingolay, ay, ay, ay ay,
Dingolay ay, ay, ay..."

RIP Shadow....The legend will live on in music...

Offline ann3boys

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Re: COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY SITTINGS
« Reply #14 on: May 12, 2009, 08:19:51 AM »
I think you're right :rotfl:

Offline ann3boys

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Re: COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY SITTINGS
« Reply #15 on: May 12, 2009, 02:39:53 PM »
well now there is an injunction and the comm of enq has been paused...
something about lawyers and theie privilege. I don't understand it myself.
so we wait..... ;D

Offline Brownsugar

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Re: COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY SITTINGS
« Reply #16 on: May 14, 2009, 05:16:34 PM »
Well dey sort out dey stories...apparently the lawyers did have a legitimate concern. 

But ah forget to tune in and de Big C was gave testimony today....she going back tomorrow ah hope ah remember to check it out....
"...If yuh clothes tear up
Or yuh shoes burst off,
You could still jump up when music play.
Old lady, young baby, everybody could dingolay...
Dingolay, ay, ay, ay ay,
Dingolay ay, ay, ay..."

RIP Shadow....The legend will live on in music...

Offline Brownsugar

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Re: COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY SITTINGS
« Reply #17 on: May 20, 2009, 05:14:19 PM »
So this thing winding down now....ah waiting patiently to see what's going to happen once the report is handed over...

 :waiting:
"...If yuh clothes tear up
Or yuh shoes burst off,
You could still jump up when music play.
Old lady, young baby, everybody could dingolay...
Dingolay, ay, ay, ay ay,
Dingolay ay, ay, ay..."

RIP Shadow....The legend will live on in music...

Offline weary1969

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Re: COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY SITTINGS
« Reply #18 on: May 20, 2009, 06:47:49 PM »
So this thing winding down now....ah waiting patiently to see what's going to happen once the report is handed over...

 :waiting:

What happenin 2 d other COI NUTTENNNNNNNNN A WASTE OF TAXPAYERS MONEYYYYYYYYYYYYY
Today you're the dog, tomorrow you're the hydrant - so be good to others - it comes back!"

Offline Brownsugar

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Re: COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY SITTINGS
« Reply #19 on: May 21, 2009, 10:34:55 AM »
So this thing winding down now....ah waiting patiently to see what's going to happen once the report is handed over...

 :waiting:

What happenin 2 d other COI NUTTENNNNNNNNN A WASTE OF TAXPAYERS MONEYYYYYYYYYYYYY

Dais wha ah fraid for, nutten coming out of this one...*sigh* :(
"...If yuh clothes tear up
Or yuh shoes burst off,
You could still jump up when music play.
Old lady, young baby, everybody could dingolay...
Dingolay, ay, ay, ay ay,
Dingolay ay, ay, ay..."

RIP Shadow....The legend will live on in music...

Offline dcs

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Re: COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY SITTINGS
« Reply #20 on: May 24, 2009, 07:42:11 AM »


In Uff Inquiry, citizens have their say online
By Andre Bagoo Sunday,
May 24 2009
Trinidad & Tobago Newsday


The Uff Commission of Inquiry website\'s Public Forum....
THE PROCEEDINGS of the Uff Commission of Inquiry is often dominated by hours of wrangling by batteries of lawyers. Besides watching the proceedings on television, there is very little opportunity for citizens to themselves get involved in the proceedings which have thus far consumed millions in taxpayers dollars. But there is one place where citizens are having their say: online.

Since it was launched, an online forum at the inquiry’s website, www.constructionenquiry.gov.tt, has been abuzz with activity. There are several topics which have been posted for debate by the online community. The “Public Forum” on the website features a total of 139 posts under 29 different topics or “threads”.

Among the most popular threads were the ones featuring debate on the issues of: whether or not commissioner Israel Khan SC had shown apparent bias in the proceedings; a list of key questions on Udecott’s controversial Brian Lara stadium project; whether the Udecott inquiry is a waste of money; and whether Udecott has demonstrated that it has proper internal checks.

To subscribe to the public forum, participants must enter an e-mail address. To post a new thread or reply to messages posted, participants must enter a user name. The posts are then reviewed by a forum moderator before being posted.

And while legal arguments in the inquiry proceedings have often reached a fever pitch before the commissioners, the online debate can often get just as heated.

For instance, on the topic of whether or not the inquiry is a waste of money, a person using the username of “Alicia R” wrote on February 1: “This whole enquiry into Udecott is a waste of taxpayers money. Please deal with the current crime problem in this our beautiful island… Udecott has done a lot with the taxpayers money they have not wasted the money. There is the outstanding Waterfront which has met international standards… Soon the people of Trinidad and Tobago will realise their error.”

That post triggered a slew of responses, including one by a “john d” who said, “I don't think this person is a serious person or patriot. Are you saying people can fritter away…our patrimony and leave us with buildings?” In response to this, another, “Enil E” wrote, “How do you expect buildings to be built, with doubles? Materials cost money and if you want quality work done you need to hire professional people.”

The most recent threads in the forum are titled, “Lobby to remove Brian Lara’s Name from the ‘Brian Lara Stadium’”; “Cleaver Heights”; “HDC investigations” and “Udecott corporate governance”. In the Lara thread, “ChrisM23” writes, “I humbly wish to submit, that Mr Lara’s name be removed from that debacle that has been called the Brian Lara Stadium (with his blessing of course). A player of such class and with such spectacular accomplishments…cannot be associated with this project that is so late and over budget and embroiled in such controversy. What say you the people of TT?”

Offline Brownsugar

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Re: COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY SITTINGS
« Reply #21 on: October 06, 2009, 06:36:24 AM »
So much bachanal, too little time....but ah just want to say....

"Fools is what they take we for...."  >:(
"...If yuh clothes tear up
Or yuh shoes burst off,
You could still jump up when music play.
Old lady, young baby, everybody could dingolay...
Dingolay, ay, ay, ay ay,
Dingolay ay, ay, ay..."

RIP Shadow....The legend will live on in music...

Offline Brownsugar

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Re: COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY SITTINGS
« Reply #22 on: October 07, 2009, 08:06:58 PM »
My sentiments exactly....

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_opinion?id=161541145

UDeCOTT, enuff already!      
William Lucie-Smith
Wednesday, October 7th 2009


Very rarely can there have been a matter of such public interest in which the public, the press and all commentators seem so clearly in agreement as to what is in the public interest and on which the Government appears to agree, but as I write has so far failed to act.

UDeCOTT's lawyers appear to have successfully derailed the Uff enquiry, and it is suspended while the court examines whether the enquiry has shown sufficient evidence of bias against UDeCOTT such that the entire enquiry should be terminated.

The Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT) has been given a very significant mandate by the Government-to manage a massive building development programme. The amount of funding controlled by UDeCOTT is several billion dollars and its portfolio of mega projects includes the Prime Minister's Residence, the Tarouba stadium, the Waterfront development, the Government Campus, the Chancery Lane project, the Performing Arts Centre, the National Carnival Centre, the Legal Affairs towers and many others.

By early 2008 there were already questions arising in some quarters about how effective UDeCOTT was in carrying out its mandate as many projects were widely perceived to be behind schedule and way above original budget. Privately too, some people were querying the role of Calder Hart and how he rose to become a super mandarin as executive chairman of UDeCOTT, chairman of the NIB, chairman of Nipdec, chairman of the Home Mortgage Bank and chairman of T&T Mortgage and Finance.

The concerns about UDeCOTT became very public when a cabinet minister, Keith Rowley, started expressing concerns about the Performing Arts Centre and unilateral changes to plans for the project. He later expanded his criticisms to include queries about the governance structure and the award of certain contracts, and the approval of additional payments to contractors. The issue became public when Dr Rowley was dismissed from the cabinet in April 2008 because of alleged "wajang" behaviour.

The dismissal of Rowley was widely seen as political and the culmination of his long disagreement with Patrick Manning. The behaviour issue has largely been dismissed as a red herring. However the Rowley/Manning political divide is integral to an understanding of the issues and politics of the UDeCOTT enquiry. The attack on UDeCOTT's integrity by Dr Rowley immediately received support from the opposition. Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj in April 2008 made startling allegations about the award of a $368 million contract to a company called CH Development, which was the newly formed local subsidiary of a Malaysian company called Sunway. Maharaj alleged, under the protection of parliamentary privilege, that Hart was related through marriage to the principals at Sunway. This allegation was stoutly denied by Mr Hart.


The outcry over UDeCOTT was of course fuelled by some fairly obvious evidence of non-performance. The Brian Lara Stadium was promised for the cricket World Cup in 2007 and is still not delivered. The cost overruns and lack of performance helped fuel concerns about the award of this and other contracts to Hafeez Karamath. The controversy about UDeCOTT would not go away and despite stout defences by Colm Imbert and Calder Hart and an attempt to refer it to a Joint Select Committee of Parliament, the Government was forced to finally appoint an independent commission of enquiry. The Government broadened the scope of the enquiry to include construction in general and the Cleaver Heights project in particular. This again is part of the Manning/Rowley political divide as Prime Minister Manning made allegations about this project and Dr Rowley. Despite the HDC saying there was no money missing this project was also referred to forensic accountants. The subsequent resignation of the HDC general manager and replacement of the entire board of the HDC may be seen as collateral damage in the dispute.

It is important to note that although the Government bowed to pressure to hold a public enquiry the four commissioners were hand-picked by them. I have never met any of the commissioners but find the allegations of bias laid by UDeCOTT to be faintly ludicrous. It is difficult to see how these commissioners, by the act of asking questions and making enquiries, could have demonstrated such bias as to render this multi-million dollar exercise void.

Recently the Government changed the board of the HDC (because it contradicted Minister Emily Gaynor Dick-Forde?). The Government also gave directions to TSTT, a corporation in which it has a minority interest, but controls through a public company. The public now sees UDeCOTT acting in a manner inimical to the completion of a Government-appointed enquiry and the same Minister Dick-Forde supports their right to use taxpayers' money to do so. No wonder the public is outraged and even strong PNM supporters are forced to worry that something is very wrong.


Calder Hart's statement to the enquiry exposed the deep animositybetween the major players. He accused Dr Rowley of favouring Emile Elias and being against Hafeez Karamath and complained of the vicious and untruthful attacks on his integrity. However the questioning by the commissioners revealed uncomfortable information about tenders procedures, breaches of Government protocols, and the fax number shared by Calder Hart and CH Development. I am sure we all await the outcome with bated breath. A forensic investigation of UDeCOTT's contracts is certainly called for and this is best done under the stewardship of a new and independent board.
 
"...If yuh clothes tear up
Or yuh shoes burst off,
You could still jump up when music play.
Old lady, young baby, everybody could dingolay...
Dingolay, ay, ay, ay ay,
Dingolay ay, ay, ay..."

RIP Shadow....The legend will live on in music...

Offline Brownsugar

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Re: COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY SITTINGS
« Reply #23 on: December 08, 2009, 05:09:10 AM »
Manning looking more and more like an idiot for continuing to openly support Calder Hart....

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161567460

HART COPS OUT
Uff stuns enquiry: UDeCOTT boss will not challenge damning testimony of wife's ex-husband
by Ria Taitt Political Editor
Tuesday, December 8th 2009

Notwithstanding the damning allegations he has made against Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT) boss Calder Hart and his wife, Sherrine, Carl Khan, former husband of Sherrine, will not be cross-examined by Hart’s attorneys.

The fourth phase began yesterday at Winsure Building, Richmond Street, Port of Spain, with the disclosure that Hart has opted not to challenge via cross-examination Khan’s claim that the directors and shareholders of CH Development, the three-week-old company which won a $368 million contract from UDeCOTT, were Hart’s relatives.

This was the stunning disclosure made by chairman Prof John Uff at the resumption of hearings in the Commission of Enquiry into UDeCOTT and the construction sector.

Uff stated: ’Attorneys for UDeCOTT stated that they did not intend to take part in the present hearing and attorneys for Mr Calder Hart have stated that they would not be seeking to cross-examine either Mr Carl Khan or Mr Winston Agard (HDC’s expert witness). Therefore, neither of these witnesses will be called and their evidence will stand as evidence before the Enquiry’.

Khan in sworn testimony given in May this year had stated that he knew for a fact that Lee Hup Ming and Ng Chin Poh of CH Development, (the company which won the construction contract for the Legal Affairs Towers) were the brother and brother-in-law of Mrs Hart respectively.

’I know this as a fact from my marriage to Mrs Hart, during which time they resided in Malaysia and we had several conversations with them via Internet phone, where we would see and converse with them at the same time’.

Khan pointed out in a supplemental affidavit that the address given by CH Development, (#7, The Park Glencoe) was the address of Chun Sing Kwok, ’who was a friend of Mrs Hart during the time of our marriage. I had been to that address on at least two occasions. On one such occasion, which was in early 1999, Mrs Hart hosted a dinner party’.

He added that the telephone number for CH Development (633-9311) is the same telephone number ’in my address book for Chun Sing Kwok’.

Both Diego Martin West MP Dr Keith Rowley and Tabaquite MP Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj in separate interviews yesterday said the decision not to challenge Khan evidence spoke volumes and had serious implications.

Rowley said the Commission had provided adequate opportunity for the testimony of Khan to be challenged. But, with yesterday’s announcement, ’it is now uncontraverted evidence,’ he said.

He said the Prime Minister should act immediately and remove Hart as executive chairman of UDeCOTT and as chairman of other State agencies.

’Because what is now accepted as uncontraverted evidence is that serious contractual shortcomings take place when major contracts have been awarded’.

Rowley said Hart admitted that he invited CH Development to bid, but said that he (Hart) did not know these people.

’But the evidence now before the Commission is that these persons are members of his family and it triggers and warrants certain criminal investigations and runs afoul of the Integrity in Public Life Act’, Rowley said.

Noting that an additional contract of $300 million for the outfitting of the building was subsequently given to the same company, Rowley said the contractor ended up with $668 million of work ’which we now see was directed to the contractor in contravention of the Integrity in Public Life and possibly the Prevention of Corruption Act’. He said Government could not wait until the Commission of Enquiry has reported and Hart could not continue to be given the protection by the Cabinet.

Maharaj, who was the first person to raise the alleged family link by Hart and CH directors in Parliament in April 2008, recalled that the Prime Minister’s position, when there were calls for Hart and the UDeCOTT Board to be removed, (during debate on the Validation Bill) was that the allegations were ’pure hearsay’.

’He (the PM) kept on saying ’you cannot dismiss (Hart) on allegations and that there was a presumption of innocence’. ’And I (Maharaj) said that it had not been contested (up to that stage)...So it is now basically admitted that there was wrongdoing and therefore the Prime Minister has a duty to act now and fire Calder Hart and the board. Because in law where the evidence is not challenged either by cross-examination or by calling evidence to rebut it, it is deemed to be admitted. This is an admission and the Prime Minister must act immediately in the public interest.’

In defending Hart in the debate on the Validation and Immunity Bill in October, Prime Minister Patrick Manning dismissed Khan’s testimony.

Said Manning: ’The problem is that the source of the information that has led to all of this is the former husband of Mr Hart’s wife. They (Government detractors) prefer to rely on the evidence of a jilted lover. That is what it is. In case they did not know it, those divorce proceedings were so acrimonious that the proceedings remain sealed to this day...Yet it is on the say-so of that individual that they choose to hang their case’.

Manning added that Hart and his wife had ’categorically denied any interest or involvement in CH Development and that any member of their family was involved in the award of the contract for the construction of the Ministry of Legal Affairs Towers...The spurious and untrue allegations levelled by an Opposition member of Parliament, under parliamentary privilege are a blatant attempt to publicly tarnish the reputations of private individuals and are unfortunate’.

However, in a letter to the Commission in April of this year, TSTT has confirmed that the fax number 624-8239 which appears on the letterhead of CH Development at the time of the award of the contract, was registered in the name of Calder Hart and was installed since May 1987 at Hart’s Cascade home. When Hart was questioned about this by Commissioner Desmond Thornhill, he replied that he no idea how his number appeared on the company’s letterhead.

’I have no idea, but I’m going to get to the bottom of this, I tell you,’ Hart then stated.
 
"...If yuh clothes tear up
Or yuh shoes burst off,
You could still jump up when music play.
Old lady, young baby, everybody could dingolay...
Dingolay, ay, ay, ay ay,
Dingolay ay, ay, ay..."

RIP Shadow....The legend will live on in music...

Offline Brownsugar

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Re: COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY SITTINGS
« Reply #24 on: December 08, 2009, 05:22:37 AM »
To Mr. Manning and the christian with a big C, "where the money gone"?.....

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161567458

'Missing $10m' fades before commission
by Ria Taitt Political Editor
Tuesday, December 8th 2009

It is inconceivable that the ’minor’ construction problems at the Cleaver Heights project should be engaging the attention of the Commission of Enquiry, Alvin Fitzpatrick, attorney for Emile Elias’ NHIC, stated yesterday.

At the fourth phase of the hearing of the Commission of Enquiry into UDeCOTT and the construction sector, the issue of the ’missing’ $10 million virtually faded into oblivion and instead a sometimes tedious repetition about inadequate box drains, and drains built without curved slippers and swales, culverts, no guttering, bad louvres, poor door frames, walls that were not perpendicular, and other such construction details took centre stage as well as the problem of crime at Cleaver Heights.

Chairman John Uff started off by noting that the $10 million discrepancy first appeared in an HDC note to its board and that figure was perpetuated in all other exchanges. So, he noted, the ’misstatement’ did not originate with the contractor, NHIC.

The Commission then moved to hear evidence from two experts-Dr Winston Suite who has been engaged by the Housing Development Corporation and Winston Agard, engaged by NHIC.

Uff asked Suite whether the construction problems stemmed from a lack of proper overall management of the project. Suite said there was a ’lapse in oversight control in the execution of the contract’. Suite talked about the lack of guttering and the consequent erosion of the soil and the threat of ’structural wall failure’, a serious problem. But he conceded that even many high income homes had no guttering.

Uff noted that ’these were fairly small detailed issues which we didn’t expect to get into in this Enquiry’. But the Chairman asked whether ’anybody mentioned the issue of (the lack of) guttering (in many homes) at the climate change talks at CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting). Is the problem (of erosion because of heavy rainfall) getting worse because of climate change?’ the chairman asked.

Hearing resumes today.

"...If yuh clothes tear up
Or yuh shoes burst off,
You could still jump up when music play.
Old lady, young baby, everybody could dingolay...
Dingolay, ay, ay, ay ay,
Dingolay ay, ay, ay..."

RIP Shadow....The legend will live on in music...

 

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