PNM senator Foster Cummings on Monday refuted insinuations by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar that there are questions concerning contracts he obtained from state organisations.
At UNC’s National Congress meeting last Sunday, Persad-Bissessar raised questions about Cummings and three companies, Cummings and Associates Company Limited, Pical Services Company Limited and Klydon Enterprises Ltd.
Yesterday, Cummings said he had Cummings and Associates since 1998 and Pical Services since 2001. He said he did not own Klydon Enterprises Ltd but only had a business relationship with that entity.”
“I’m not doing anything in the way she’s insinuating, absolutely not. The fact is I have been in business since 1998 so this (getting contracts) isn’t a recent development—I’m an established businessman and that status pre-dates my appointment as a Government senator.”
Cummings said the UNC was in panic mode following last Saturday’s launch of PNM’s new Central Trinidad office.” Cummings was recently reappointed to the Senate after Garvin Simonette resigned over a DUI charge.
“The Opposition Leader should make better use of her time, apologising to T&T for the scandals involving gross mismanagement in her tenure,” he said.
Citing documents filed in the Legal Affairs Ministry’s Company Registry, Persad-Bissessar said Cummings, the PNM general secretary, and his wife were listed as directors and shareholders of Cummings and Associates and Pical Services.
Persad-Bissessar alleged Pical was granted a contract from UDeCOTT for the demolition of the Besson Street Police Station in June. The Opposition Leader questioned whether Cummings was being favoured by state agencies.
UDeCOTT in a statement said the company followed its tender process in the award of two contracts to companies owned by Cummings. The company said contracts were approved for the demolition of the police station and the construction of the Indian Trail Community Centre, in Couva.
It said its tender rules and regulations are transparent and can stand scrutiny.
Rowley in a response to Guardian Media last Sunday said was “Once Mrs Persad-Bissessar calls my name in any wrongdoing I review it with an eye to referring it to my attorney, other than that I have nothing to respond to.”