Senior Political Reporter
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said yesterday he had no “friend collecting money from the Government” on his instructions —and there’s nothing for him to investigate with the former Tobago House of Assembly administration’s decision to purchase 13 acres of land from the Warner Group of Companies at the price of $43 million.
He made the comment in Parliament yesterday following questions from UNC MPs Rodney Charles and Roodal Moonilal on whether he’d probe certain issues by the former PNM-controlled THA. Rowley clashed with the Opposition in his replies and flung back alleged UNC issues.
Charles asked about recent allegations of malfeasance in the issuing of contracts by the former THA administration, and if Rowley had requested investigation of this.
Rowley said, “I don’t know of what he speaks.”
He said maybe if Charles has information on serious allegations of malfeasance, “... And, of course, if he does, know he’ll run to the correct authority.”
Rowley said there are authorities established for this purpose, so if what Charles heard was true, he was sure the Integrity Commission and police would have also heard it.
Charles asked about THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine’s recent statements that two senior Government officials “pressured” the THA to pay a certain contractor “... Who happens to be your friend.”
Rowley said, “I have no friend who’s collecting any money from the Government on my instructions because authorities have the right to spend Government money with respect to their authority and as far as the statement by the Chief Secretary...the Chief Secretary can explain himself.”
Charles asked if Rowley was saying if malfeasance occurs under his watch that he didn’t care whether it’s revealed.
Rowley said, “Certainly not ... that’s why so many of them (UNC) in difficulty with the state...”
When UNC’s Rudy Indarsingh objected to Rowley making “wild accusations without substantiation,” Rowley said. “My friend is calling his colleague from Pointe-a-Pierre ‘nothing’? What you mean without any substantiation? I have a colleague in this House who on a $1 million bail! I have another colleague who before the High Court - so what you coming to tell me!”
Rowley said he wasn’t going to be in the habit of having an investigation into every wild allegation the Opposition makes, “But we do have MPs here who have serious difficulty with the court and the police!”
THA land purchase from Warner
Moonilal had asked, following revelations regarding the former THA administration’s decision to purchase 13 acres of land from the Warner Group at the price of $43m for construction of a secondary school, if Rowley intended to order an independent probe of the purchase.
Rowley said he wasn’t aware of any such transaction by the THA but if there was basis for the statement, the THA has full authority under law to purchase land. He said he had no information on what the price might have been.
He added, “What I do know, is there’s a requirement in Tobago to relocate the Scarborough Secondary school and the THA was searching for an appropriate site ... my friends in this House are fishing for some mark to buss. This isn’t one of them so I have nothing to investigate.”
Moonilal asked, since Rowley had “great interest” in the purchase of Eden Gardens on the claim the price was inflated, if Rowley didn’t have the same interest that the Tobago land was valued at $13m and purchased at $30m more.
Rowley retorted, “One of the reasons I have no interest in this, like Eden Gardens, is that nobody in the Valuation Department received a cheque from the seller! As the evidence of that is available —the MP doth protest too much!”
Moonilal asked how Rowley would be aware that in this matter of the Warner Group, there’s nothing illegal and if he investigated it. Rowley said he’d taken no position on the matter, since if it turns out the THA has bought land, they have the authority to purchase land.
But he said he’d put on the record the Eden Garden issue - land valued at $59m and sold at $180m.
“... And you’ll have your day in court!” Rowley shouted, with UNC MPs shouting back.
Moonilal asked if Rowley was aware the Tobago issue involved a “$30m overprice” by Warner Group and if that money was part of a “generous deduction in the purchase of apartments in Tobago.”
Rowley said, “I know not of which you speak...!”
Arguing was still occurring as proceedings moved on.