Several State-owned venues were considered for the Venezuelan registration process, but they did meet the necessary criteria, National Security Minister Stuart Young said on Sunday as he defended the Government’s decision to select the three venues currently in use.
The Venezuelan registration process, which started on Friday, is taking place at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain, Achievors Banquet Hall in San Fernando, and the Caroline Building in Tobago.
“All of the venues being used were chosen by the multi-agency team comprising the Immigration Division and the public servants at the Ministry of National Security,” Young stated.
Questions have been raised about the cost to taxpayers for the rental of the private properties since there are State venues available.
However, Young said the three venues selected offer “security and exclusive availability” for the two-week period that the registration process is carded to last.
“I had requested that certain State-owned venues be looked at as first preference. However, as I have said previously, the fact that we needed exclusive access for two weeks reduced the number of venues that were available,” Young stated.
These factors caused several State-owned venues not to be adequate for the registration process, Young said.
“I believe they said some State venues couldn’t be used because they could not be guaranteed exclusive use and there were some events that were already booked at the State venues,” Young said.
“It’s somewhat understandable given that they would have computers and sensitive national security information that they don’t want exposed to just anyone,” he said.
Young said the entire cost of the process will be revealed to the public once the registration period has ended.
Movement for Social Justice leader David Abdulah yesterday said State buildings could have been used for free.
Guardian Media was told that the Government is paying $23,000 per day to rent the Achievors Banquet Hall but this has not been confirmed by government officials.