The Government today announced the board appointments of four major State-owned companies.
Speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing, at the Office of the Prime Minister, in St Clair, Communications Minister Maxie Cuffie said the appointees to the boards of the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), the Urban Development Corporation of T&T (Udecott), the
Housing Development Authority (HDC) and the Educational Facilities Company Ltd.
Cuffie defended the selection of former managing director of the HDC Noel Garcia to the chair Udecott board. He said the former HDC executive director's role in the controversial Las Alturas Housing Development project in Morvant would not affect his new position.
Garcia is expected to be called as a witness in the ongoing Commission of Enquiry into the project, which was initiated by former administration after it was found that two multi-storey apartment buildings in the project were constructed on shifting land leading to their demolition. Garcia is yet to be summoned by the commission.
"The Udecott matter does not involve the Las Alturas enquiry, that is into the HDC and the construction of apartments there. The enquiry is a fact-finding issue and there are no charges against Mr Garcia. I think he was asked to be a witness and being a witness does not preclude still being on a board," Cuffie said.
Cuffie also said that more State boards will be appointed as soon as appointees under the previous administration tender their resignations.
"Several board members have offered their resignations. There have been cases were resignations have been offered by some members of the board and not the entire board. We go about we are filling those vacancies as they arise," Cuffie said.