"False and malicious"
...no truth to Ian Alleyne's Tarouba questions says Fiance Ministerhttp://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160829/news/false-and-maliciousCRIME Watch host Ian Alleyne's questions about whether the wives of two Government Ministers had benefited from the Tarouba stadium contracts, were false and intended to maliciously, says Finance Minister Colm Imbert.
Imbert, who said he viewed a recording to Alleyne's claims, said there was no truth to what was being insinuated, and it was up to the lawyers to determine if he had crossed the line into libel.
The entertainment show, in which Alleyne plays the part of crime investigator and solver , has been suspended by the company's management which has asked Alleyne for evidence corroborating the story aired.
READ: It's a big fat lie! UDeCOTT responds to Tarouba Stadium claims
Alleyne has responded on his Facebook page, saying that his freedom had been taken away by the “parasitic oligarchy” and that he had been “enslaved by those using the machinery of the state”. He has called on his “fans” for support.
Alleyne had claimed on CNC3 TV that the wives of two Government ministers have received contracts from UDeCOTT to do work at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, that chairs were being replaced at a cost of $35 million, and the power washing was costing $19 million.
However, chairman of the Urban Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT) Noel Garcia told the Express last Thursday: ““That is a big fat lie. The statements by Ian Alleyne are outright lies, mischievous and designed to bring UDeCOTT into disrepute and odium. His lies have targeted private citizens who have no contractual or other engagements with UDeCOTT. UDeCOTT intends to seek the legal regress and will take all appropriate steps to clear its name.”
Garcia said a contract was awarded to Lifetime Roofing Limited for repair of the stadium's roof and works included power washing to an amount of $6 million.
The contract was awarded after a competitive tendering process he said.
He said the cost of the chairs from the original Australian supplier was $3.2 million and the cost of installation to a local contractor will be significantly lower.
Garcia said: “ So far we are under budget based on the tendering process.”
The projected cost for repair works is $90 million and Garcia said more than likely, the December deadline will be met.
UDECOTT has since obtained the tape of Alleyne's show, and was reviewing its contents, said Garcia.
Finance Minister Colm Imbert was also asked about Alleyne and UDeCOTT's respond, which was published in an Express online article last Thursday.
Imbert said: “Now that I have read your story and looked at the tape, I have concluded that that crime watch story was intended to be malicious. There is no truth whatsoever to the insinuations and inferences therein”.
Asked if the State would file legal action against Alleyne or the television station, Imbert said: “The inferences and insinuations are false and malicious. However in order to determine whether they are libellous, a lawyer will have to review the tape. It is clear, however, that the intention was to maliciously and dishonestly insinuate impropriety. We shall see if Alleyne and his side kick … have crossed the line of libel”.
