Seeking to clear his company’s maligned reputation after it was named in a million-dollar food bill scandal at Petrotrin, managing director of Superb Caterers Wayne Ali yesterday produced evidence showing he was paid less than $7,000 for two days of catering last October.
The invoices disputed a document produced by Opposition Senator Gerard Ramdeen in the House on Tuesday which claimed Superb Caterers was paid $23, 770 for catering for two meetings at the Pointe-a-Pierre Staff Club on October 11 and 17, 2018.
In an interview with the media, Ali said he did not know where Ramdeen got his figures. However, he said his company’s records, signed by Petrotrin, showed that on October 17 he catered 25 box lunches and a beverage for 25 people at a cost of $625 and 15 box lunches at $60 which cost $900. Copies of this invoice were supplied to the media.
On October 11, Ali said an invoice from his company showed he provided 120 box lunches with a beverage at $25 each which cost $3,000, as well as 26 box lunches at a cost of $60 each, which amounted to $1,560.
Saying he did not want to get involved in politics, Ali said he was upset because many people had since called his company asking why he was charging Petrotrin $1,000 for a plate of food when in fact his price was $25.
“I am disturbed when I saw the news where Gerald Ramdeen said a catering company got $27,770 for two sets of lunches. The Guardian named the company as Superb Caterers. I am looking at the bills. It is nowhere close to that.”
Saying he has been doing business with Petrotrin for over 20 years, Ali said he has never charged anyone $1,000 a plate for food.
“I have been in the catering business for over 25 years. I am not involved in any scandal. I am not into politics and this is a political issue. Politicians are supposed to be honourable but now I have doubts,” Ali said.
He added, “I am now trying to clear my name. I worked hard to build this company and to say these things is a total fabrication. My company is not involved in any scandal.”
Ali said Petrotrin also owes him money for catering services for as far back as 2013 and 2014.
Asked whether he was worried that he will not get his money, Ali said the thought had crossed his mind. However, he said he was told that whatever company is set up to replace Petrotrin will honour the debts.
Ali said the defamation of his company is now being perused by his attorneys. Asked whether he was pursuing legal action, Ali said his lawyers were still in discussions.
He also said he depended on catering for his livelihood.
“I have a staff to pay and I have to survive. It is not fair that my company is being implicated in something that is totally false,” Ali said.
He noted that social media was dragging his company’s name through the mud because of Ramdeen’s unfounded claims.
Contacted yesterday, Ramdeen said the documents he provided showing the $27,770 invoices came from Petrotrin’s Finance Department. Ramdeen said if Petrotrin officials were using Superb Caterers to swindle money from Petrotrin then this was a matter Ali’s lawyers should take up. With regard to Ali’s claim of defamation, Ramdeen said Ali was free to take the matter to court.
Meanwhile, an invoice obtained by the T&T Guardian from Johnson Camacho and Singh also showed that $17,083.13 was paid for professional services for the incorporation of Heritage Petroleum, Paria Fuel Trading, Guaracara Refining Company and Trinidad Petroleum Holdings Limited. This included attending to chairman Wilfred Espinet signing of documents, filing at the company’s registry and receipt of registered incorporation documents, obtaining company’s seal, preparing bylaws and preparing organisational meeting minutes.
Ramdeen, who also spoke of this transaction in the Senate, had claimed that Petrotrin paid the law firm $168, 988 for this process, which he described as a few minutes of work.