Dutch law enforcement authorities are undertaking a criminal investigation and forensic probe into the former People’s Partnership Government’s acquisition of certain Damen vessels, National Security Minister Stuart Young has confirmed.
Young disclosed this in the Senate yesterday responding to an Opposition motion by UNC senator Wade Mark who’d called for a criminal forensic probe into the PNM Government’s acquisition of two Austal-built Cape Class vessels for the Coast Guard.
Instead, Young revealed the Dutch authorities were probing the former Government on the Damen vessels.
In May 2015, the past PP administration had ordered 12 vessels from the Dutch Damen firm for TT$1.35 billion. This was reportedly, without immediately having the money in hand to pay for them. In June 2015, the Government accepted one vessel and projected receiving more.
Yesterday, UNC’s Mark had taken issue with cost figures for the PNM Government’s acquisition of the two Austal vessels. Mark indicated there have been too many conflicting figures, citing some given. Mark said a July 2018 Cabinet minute indicated the real price was US$89m. But he said Young recently said the price was US$41m each.
Young maintained the cost per vessel is US$40.9m and after Coast Guard negotiation for communications systems, logistics support and delivery cost, the final price was US$41m each.
Young accused the PP/UNC administration of refusing to maintain six Coast Guard Austal vessels which deteriorated, “The only time the UNC rushed to get marine vessels was during the approach to the 2015 general elections,” he said, referring to a China visit by the former Prime Minister.
He added, “They then rushed to purchase the six Damen vessels. We didn’t call for any criminal probe then. But international authorities, not T&T authorities, are now conducting a criminal investigation and forensic probe into the acquisition of the Damen vessels by the UNC Government.”
“It’s not the TT Government doing this but the Dutch Government and Dutch law enforcement’s investigating the UNC for procurement of the six Damen vessels,” he said.
Young said the international criminal probe will examine events during 2010-15 concerning the Damen vessels and the former Government, “I’m waiting for international authorities to tell us about the vessels (UNC) bought, the legal fees and so on that occurred.”
“We’ll hear at the end of that, how many hundreds of millions were spent and where the money went…(UNC) can’t tell us up to now who negotiated with Damen for the vessels.”
Former PP National Security minister Carl Alphonso (February–September 2015) didn’t reply yesterday nor did former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.