Moonilal rejects Rowley’s claims of HDC corruption

Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal is dismissing claims by Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley that a $5 million contract was awarded to a university student without any tendering invitation by the Housing Development Corporation (HDC). Rowley made the allegation while addressing scores of supporters at an annual constituency conference held at Embacadere, San Fernando on Sunday. Accusing the Government of rampant corruption, Rowley said due process was not followed at the HDC for the award of contracts. Reading a letter of award from the HDC dated on August 24 for a $5 million contract for the rehabilitation of a car park at Maloney Gardens, Rowley said: “It wasn’t something that went out for tender. Somebody sent a proposal to the HDC, and it accepted the proposal for a car park at Maloney Gardens for $5 million.”

 

Rowley contended that the directors of the company took their position on July 20 and that one of the directors was a university student, and the other is an executive assistant of a car rental company. On the passing of the Indictable Offences Act which allows discontinuance of proceedings against businessmen Ishwar Galbarsingh and Steve Ferguson, Rowley said this indicated declining standards. He said he was already facing legal action from Attorney General Anand Ramlogan after complaining of Ramlogan’s use of his office. Rowley said also the decision of the Congress of the People (COP) not to move against National Security Minister Jack Warner was proof that standards were falling.  “There is a plummeting of standards in Trinidad and Tobago, led by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. I have no expectation that ethical standards will prevail. That is just a smoke screen. It appears the majority of people in this country are being led to believe that ethical standards and conduct do not matter. It is what you could get. This is the general way of life that they think we should accept,” Rowley said.

 

He said when the PNM was in government, the population penalised them for adhering to high standards of accountability, transparency, and of fighting crime. “Today, the crime situation is worse than it was in 2010. Before, we measured murders by the day; now we measure it by the hour. “They pretend to be interested in proper procurement. They are asking us to subscribe to these standards. Corruption in these times is worse. Every single board has issues of corrupt practices,” Rowley said. However, in a text message on Sunday night, Moonilal denied corruption was taking place at HDC. “I don’t know what Rowley is speaking about. Corruption was part of the PNM legacy. The HDC units that we now spend millions to repair were constructed under Rowley’s tenure. Wellington (Debe) units were moving and Las Alturas (in Morvant) had to be blown up,” he said.