"Do we pack up and leave T&T and our business simply because we know the Prime Minister?" That was the question yesterday from Ralph Gopaul, head of Gopaul and Co Ltd (GCL) - a garbage collection company-which is at the centre of the current issue concerning a $40 million NP contract.
Gopaul broke his silence yesterday, after the Prime Minister's admission that she is a friend of his family. Gopaul's family owns the Tunapuna residence where Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar stayed before and after the May 2010 general election.
Persad-Bissessar said on Tuesday that she was "friends" with the Gopauls. CDS Transport which has been supplying trucking services to NP and which was among short-listed bidders for the contract-along with GCL-has disputed the process. Yesterday, CDS' attorney Martin George wrote the Government-including the Prime Minister-to supply certain further information on the issue, after statements by various ministers, including the PM, this week. Gopaul is now in Canada and due home next week.
Yesterday, Gopaul told Guardian that Persad-Bissessar was "close friends" with his family and his father as well. "Both families (Persad-Bissessar's and Gopauls) know each other," he added. He said his company had tendered to NP for the contract and was awaiting word from NP. Gopaul explained that his company had only tendered for supply of 20 trucks. "We will not be supplying drivers...NP has trained drivers and they are supplying that aspect," he said. "We are only supplying trucks and maintaining and servicing for them. "We have a company from England who is supplying the trucks and they will train our mechanics to deal with them."
Gopaul said he had not bought the necessary trucks yet, since he had not yet heard from NP on the tender. "You can only buy if you know you're getting the tenders," he added. He said NP was giving GCL four months to get the necessary equipment in place. Sounding affable, though mildly testy about the public scrutiny, Gopaul said he wanted to ask the general public: "...If I should leave T&T, if my family should pack up and leave our business and all our contracts since my family knows the Prime Minister?"
He added: "Should we pack up and leave because of that?...Tell us where to go-the public should answer that."
Gopaul said business people should be free to tender for contracts. He said he was watching to "see how this plays out." Meanwhile, Trade Ministry information yesterday confirmed that the head of a division of the Gopaul and Co Ltd entity had been among the list of businessmen who travelled to Brazil last month, accompanying Persad-Bissessar on that trade mission. GCL involves a subsidiary that imports basic food items-flour, sugar, oil, rice- while another division deals with the garbage collection business. The week-long trade mission to Brazil included 13 businessmen. The ministry's list confirmed the presence of Nigel Piralli, head of Gopaul and Co Ltd's food division. The confirmation was also given by the company when the Guardian contacted the GCL food division.A spokesman for the food division yesterday confirmed that Ralph Gopaul was not on the Brazil trip.
List of businessmen on PM's Brazil trip
• Charles Percy - Energy Chamber.
• Thackway Driver - Energy Chamber.
• Roger Packer - Tucker.
• Roop Chan Chadeesingh - National. Gas Company (NGC).
• Clyde Ramkhalawan - NGC.
• Arnold de Four - NGC.
• Balliram Maharaj - Supermarkets Association.
• Brian Awang - Eximbank.
• Roberto Peon - TSTT.
• Nicholas Galt - Trinidad Systems Ltd.
• Satnarine Bachew - Trinidad Cement Ltd.
• Ramon Leon - IFC.
Nigel Piralli - Gopaul and Co Ltd.