Oropouche West MP Stacy Roopnarine has admitted to facing challenges ever since she e-mailed Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar about questionable tendering procedures involving the Curepe Interchange.However, despite the mounting pressure Roopnarine said she had no regrets about raising the issue.Speaking to reporters after opening a new $300,000 play park at Antilles Trace recreation ground, San Francique, yesterday, Roopnarine admitted that she faced daily challenges.
Asked whether it was true she was now in the political dog house because of her actions, Roopnarine said:"Life is full of challenges and I believe that every day poses a different challenge but with the grace of God and support from my family, friends and activists, I have been able to overcome challenges."Asked whether she had regrets over writing the Prime Minister on the issue, Roopnarine said: "Life is not about regrets, it is about overcoming challenges and moving forward.
"I have already done that. I believe that in 2015 people will judge me by what I have done in my constituency." Asked whether she planned to recontest the Oropouche West seat, Roopnarine said: "Nominations have not yet been filed and when that happens screening will begin. I remain loyal to the Prime Minister and to the ideals of the UNC."
On September 4, Roopnarine wrote an e-mail to Persad-Bissessar raising concerns that her boss, Works Minister Dr Suruj Rambachan, was inappropriately interfering in the tendering process for the project.Roopnarine noted that Vinci Construction was the first-ranked bidder for the project with a bid of $442 million.
However, she alleged Rambachan went to the National Infrastructure Development Company Limited (Nidco) board and said the original Cabinet approved budget of $308 million should be used as the Government did not have $442 million to pay Vinci.Roopnarine said she believed the board was pressured to award the contract to another company, Lutchmeesingh Transport Contractors Ltd, because of the lack of funds.
Persad-Bissessar later said in Parliament Roopnarine was misinformed. She said enquiries were done and the first-ranked bidder, which was the highest bidder, had tendered at over $100 million more than the second-ranked bidder.She said the Cabinet approved figure for the project was $308 million and the first-ranked bid was "way over that figure by almost over $100 million." She said negotiations were still ongoing with the second bidder.
Roopnarine subsequently apologised for sending the letter to Persad-Bissessar, saying she had acted hastily and may have been wrong in her accusations."Subsequent to the writing of that e-mail, I have had the benefit of being advised on the legal parameters within which the award considerations can be made and what evaluations were being conducted on the particular project.
"At the time, I felt my own concerns were best addressed directly to the Prime Minister since I wanted an independent opinion on the matter," Roopnarine told the Sunday Guardian last month.She said having had the "benefit" of that legal advice, she was better informed of the process under which Nidco awarded its contracts and conducted its negotiations.
"I am satisfied that there was no compromise on the manner in which this was achieved. I maintain my independence of opinion and right to raise any matter of concern to me as a minister with the leader of the Government," Roopnarine said.However, there was speculation that Roopnarine was pressured to make the statement.
Contacted on his cellphone yesterday, Rambachan said he had already commented on this matter and did not have anything further to say on the issue.