Govt to probe THA accounts

 

He added: “We are looking at asking the Central Government, through the Attorney General, to investigate further the accounts of the Tobago House of Assembly (and) that may mean there will be a forensic audit of the accounts.” He said discussions were taking place with a view to advancing the probe. “Let me assure the Government of the People’s Partnership is very mindful of the need for accountability, especially when it comes to utilising public funds and we will not shirk our responsibility to ensure all the agencies, including the THA, is accountable for public funds.” he said. Chief Secretary Orville London told the T&T Guardian that he had no problem with Government’s intended investigation of the THA accounts. London said yesterday when the Auditor General’s Report was laid in the assembly all supporting documentation was provided to deal with the concerns raised. Also at the news conference yesterday Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Surujrattan Rambachan said citizens would be respected by the Government for expressing themselves. Rambachan said T&T was a democratic nation and the expression of citizens must be respected. He was responding to questions on Wednesday’s protest by people against the Point Fortin Highway passing from Debe to Mon Desir. Rambachan said the Government would continue to speak with the protesters in the hope of solving the matter soon. 

 

He also said the issue of any Caricom state leaving the regional body did not seriously arise. He was responding to a newspaper report in Jamaica which claimed a Jamaican MP was calling for Jamaica to leave Caricom because of the trade imbalance it has with T&T. Trade and Industry Minister Stephen Cadiz, who also spoke at the news conference yesterday, said there was a real problem and T&T was working closely with the Jamaican Government to resolve it. He said he was confident an amicable resolution would be found in due course. Energy and Energy Affairs Minister Kevin Ramnarine told the news conference the Government had agreed to establish an NP service station in Roxborough at a cost of more than $9 million. It was the fourth Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar in Tobago since coming to office just over two years ago. The Government will hold a rally in celebration of its achievements in Scarborough tomorrow. Persad-Bissessar will formally open the Magdalena Hotel this morning. It was constructed at a cost of more than $200 million and Cadiz said it was money well spent. He said the Government was committed to the holistic development of the tourism industry in Tobago. The Government will hold a retreat at the same venue this morning. The review of ministers’ performances in order to reconfigure the Cabinet will begin at the meeting.