Transport Minister Devant Maharaj says an advertisement inviting Expressions of Interest (EOI) for a light transit system is "a Cabinet-approved proposal." He dismissed claims by Opposition MP Colm Imbert that the Government had forewarned a contractor about the project. Maharaj was speaking with reporters after the distribution of appointments to members of the T&T National Road Safety Council at his office, International Waterfront Complex, Port-of-Spain, yesterday. He said the advertisement was "just an Expression of Interest" and was fundamentally different from the way the People's National Movement (PNM) had "experimented" with taxpayers' money when they were in office. He said the EOI was circulated worldwide and interest had already been indicated from China, India, Brazil, France and Canada.
Maharaj said the EOI required potential investors to supply information on their company and interest in their project. He added that four weeks was sufficient to prepare information. The advertisement was published in last week's newspaper by the ministry, inviting EOIs in the financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of a light transit system from City Gate to Arima. "This process that we have embarked upon by the Ministry of Transport with the approval of Cabinet...nothing that we have done with regards to this was without the Cabinet's approval," the minister said. "It is merely an Expression of Interest, utilising a model called Public Private Partnership (PPP) whereby the government acts as the facilitator to create an enabling environment for investors in our country." He said no one would be forced to relocate, since the Priority Bus Route already existed and no purchase was required so the Central Tenders Board was not needed.