Almost a decade after construction of Pan Trinbago headquarters commenced, it is nowhere close to completion. The structure, estimated to cost $7.5 million, was to be constructed with funds from the Trinidad Tesoro Fraud Settlement Account. With Carnival less than three months away, the incomplete three-storey structure remains an eyesore on the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway, Tacarigua.
But former president, Patrick Arnold is blaming the delay solely on the Ministry of Culture and Gender Affairs, claiming that the ministry refused to release all the funding allocated for the project.
"We never got all the funding. I left that office and still all the funding was not released. It has been one thing over and over to complete that headquarters. I just cannot see how money placed in an interest-bearing account at Central Bank remains the same after 20 years. I am just confused." The Central Bank has refused to offer any comment on the allegation. Communications manager Nicole Crooks when contacted said: "The bank is not in a position to divulge any information referring to accounts."
It was under the tenure of former prime minister Basdeo Panday that Pan Trinbago received the instruments of ownership for the parcel of land valued at some $9 million. According to Arnold, the initial design of the headquarters was to construct a two-storey structure. He said a decision was taken to incorporate additional features into the original design to include a fully expanded third floor.
Project handed over to Udecott
Panday had agreed that the State was prepared to bear the cost to construct the headquarters.The former People's National Movement (PNM) administration, however, handed over the project to the Urban Development Company of T&T (Udecott) for completion after claims of mishandling of funding surfaced and legal issues. Construction was expected to resume in June 2007, according to former minister, Joan Yuille-Williams but to date it remains at a standstill. "We were advised to build a three-storey building but the problem was the funding.
Every time construction started something came up and the project was stalled. We got an estimate to complete the work then the PNM came and handed over the project to Udecott. We never received all the funding," Arnold reiterated. Attempts to get former culture minister, Marlene McDonald, to shed some light on the situation also proved futile as she abruptly hung up the telephone when Sunday Guardian contacted her, saying: "I do not do interviews with the media."
Minister raps Pan Trinbago
But while line minister, Winston Peters, is unable to deny or confirm reasons for the delay, he slammed the organisation for mishandling their operations.
Describing the skeletal structure as a "white elephant," a visibly irate Peters said: "Pan Trinbago has been constructing this headquarters since God knows when. They got the land for free; they got funding to complete and still it is not finished. We have to take a critical look at these entities because whilst the headquarters cannot be completed the executive lives high on the hog. Something inside there is amiss."
Warning that the increase in his budgetary allocation would be equally shared, Peters said entities such as Pan Trinbago continued to be dependent on the purse string of the State. "I have received more funding to help them but the time has come for these interest groups to help themselves. Organisations like these have become too dependent on the purse strings of the Government to do everything. It is indeed my desire to give Pan Trinbago a home but they need to want a home bad enough where they are going to be prepared to help themselves.
"I just cannot understand for the life of me, that an organisation in existence for so long, receive millions annually and still cannot generate money on their own. This has to stop! They cannot be dependent on the Government for everything. We have to take a critical look at what is happening with these interest groups."
Insisting that there is need for oversight into how business is conducted in such organisations, Peters said he was not prepared to continue forking out funding until operations were above board.
"Whether some or all the funding has been allocated, there is need for oversight on anything these interest groups are doing.
I am afraid I have no choice but to get involved. They may not like my involvement but I am forced to do so. They have to do things to help themselves because if the Government has to do everything then we may very well take everything back and do it for ourselves. It is that plain and simple."
ABOUT THE PROJECT
On completion, the headquarters is expected to comprise an audio-visual room, conference/seminar area, library and administrative offices among other features.