Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal said it was former Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner who approved the million dollar settlement to former Airports Authority manager Ishwar Jadoonanan.Moonilal said that in his contribution to the budget debate yesterday in the Lower House, Tower D, Wrightson Road, Waterfront Centre, Port-of-Spain.He was responding to a claim by Opposition MP Colm Imbert that the official was not qualified for the job at the Airports Authority and at the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC).Imbert said a letter was written by then Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner, dated December 7, 2010, to the then Chairman of the Airports Authority former pilot Varman Bajnath.
According to Moonilal the letter was under the caption: Directions issued to the Authority during the period June 28 to December 7, 2010 re: the settlement of managers terminated in 2003.Moonilal quoted Warner's letter to show that the matters were settled out of court. Moonilal said the settlement for Jadoonanan was in the amount of $1.1 million.He said investigations into the matter at PTSC were still current.Moonilal said also the Government was not afraid of losing an election as everybody has to go at some time.The Housing Minister also said the Government was not afraid of losing elections."If it is the will of the people and the will of God that we go back in the Opposition, that is fine." Moonilal said."None of us here are begging to remain in office. We are here to do a job, which we will do," he added.
Moonilal told Warner that one day "everybody will be out and we are not scared. Everybody turn will come."During his presentation, Warner teased that he was going to reveal several allegations of corruption at a public meeting in Gasparillo this evening.In response, Moonilal said Warner should also speak about certain matters including: the Ministry of Works and Transport approving the rental of a building owned by Warner's son for use by the Government.Moonilal said there were eight other matters connected to Warner that he will raise subsequently until Warner stop making allegations of Government corruption.