Government has, since 2010, spent a total of $24 million on rent for the Local Government Ministry even though the offices have not been used, Local Government Minister Marlene Coudray confirmed yesterday.She was responding to an Opposition question in Parliament on the issue of the non-occupation of the building at 1, Alexandra Street, Port-of-Spain.
Coudray said the supplier of the service product was one N. J. Nahous. She pointed out that the rental agreement on the building was in operation since 2009, under the previous administration.People's Partnership MPs shouted "(PNM's Faris) Al-Rawi ...!" when she spoke about the property address, rentals and supplier.When the T&T Guardian called Al-Rawi later to ask about the issue, there was no reply.
Coudray said monthly rent is $690,000, totalling $8.2 million annually. She said the annual rental was paid for the years 2011, 2012 and 2013. She said this was in addition to security fees (Professional Protection Training Services) totalling $927,360 annually for the three years and also $898,380 for each year in question.Coudray did not say why the building is not being used. She left the House after her presentation.
Asked after the session why the building was not used former local government minister Suruj Rambachan said it had to be outfitted before use.On another question, Coudray also said the Tunapuna Regional Corporation hired 23 contractors for sums ranging between a minimum of $74,750 and a maximum of $3.8 million for road repair contracts during the period June 2010 to August 2013.
The approximate total of the contracts amounted to $20.4 million. The lowest figure paid was to T Roach Procurement and Enterprises and the highest was paid to Trinidad Asphalt Pavers, she said.The PNM also called on Government to withdraw proposals for the Advanced Practice Nurse from legislation to revamp the nursing sector and subject it to more scrutiny in separate legislation.
Speaking during debate on amendments to the Nurses and Midwives act, PNM MP Terrence Deyalsingh said while they supported the bill's overall principles, the Opposition couldn't support sections to approve the APNs via simple majority.He said the APN aspect required much more examination, since such nurses may replace primary doctors at rural health care units. He said the section on APNs requires more robust legislation.
PP's Colin Partap said Government had consulted the Nursing Council and Registered Nurses Association on the bill and consulting the national bodies was tantamount to consulting all nurses.