Chief Executive Officer of the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT) Frank Barnes has resigned.
Minister of Communications and National Security Stuart Young confirmed this at yesterday’s post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister, the last for the year.
“Yes, I understand that Mr Barnes has resigned. I haven’t seen his letter of resignation,” Young said.
Young also confirmed a Guardian Media report on Monday that UDeCOTT is now under the watch of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley. On Monday, Guardian Media highlighted the details of the Gazette of November 22, 2018, in which Rowley directed the President to move UDeCOTT from under the ambit of the Ministry of Housing and place it under the Office of the Prime Minister.
According to information published in the Gazette, Rowley revoked responsibility for UDeCOTT from Housing Minister Edmund Dillon and transferred it to the OPM.
The move now gives Rowley responsibility for the State’s mega-project management company.
“The movement of UdeCOTT from the Minister of Housing... UdeCOTT is now directly under the Office of the Prime Minister,” Young said.
Young also denied that Barnes’ sudden and surprising resignation had anything to do with the delay in the delivery of the Red House project.
Guardian Media learned that just before Barnes’ resignation, he was faced with questions from the hierarchy about the leak of information to the media involving the Global Finance loan of $180 million to UDeCOTT.
Guardian Media contacted Barnes yesterday about the reason for his resignation but he would only say that he “could not speak at the time.”