Hot Like Pepper - IC probes allegations involving UDECOTT boss - Top Story

Top Story : IC probes allegations involving UDECOTT boss

2008/4/29 16:28:38

A report in the Trinidad Express says the Integrity Commission has launched an investigation into statements made by Dr Keith Rowley that UDeCOTT chairman Calder Hart approached him to meet with Hafeez Karamath, a failed bidder for the award of the contract for the construction of the $100 million Customs Building, while he was Minister of Planning.

The report says Rowley's statement was contained in his response to the Integrity Commission on the allegation in August 2007, that he tried to quash certain evaluations that recommended the award of the contract to Karamath and to influence the award in favour of NH International. The commission exonerated Rowley of these allegations.

The Express said the commission wrote Rowley in September 2007, stating that it wanted to investigate his statements about Hart.

The letter states:

"You indicated that in April 2003, at the end of a meeting with the Board of Directors of UDeCOTT at your office, Mr Calder Hart, chairman of UDeCOTT, approached you with a request that you meet with Hafeez Karamath, a failed bidder for the award of the contract for the construction of the Customs Building.

"The commission has appointed Mr Wellington Virgil, Director of Investigations, to investigate this matter and he wishes to meet with you in furtherance of his investigations.

“I should appreciate if you would indicate the date and time you would be in a position to facilitate this meeting to ensure an early completion of this investigation."

The paper said in his submission, Rowley stated that he raised certain irregularities in the award, which he detailed.

"When the meeting was over, I escorted all of the participants out of my office. As I was ushering them through the door, the chairman indicated that he would like to have a word with me.

"I agreed and invited him back into my office. We were now alone. He then said to me that Mr Karamath would like to meet with me. I was stunned. I said to him, 'Do you mean Hafeez Karamath the tenderer? He indicated 'yes'. I told him that I was sorry, I will not meet with Mr Karamath or any other contractor who was bidding on this project. '

"At that point the chairman left the room. Needless to say, I was troubled by the chairman's request, particularly in light of his earlier statements during the meeting that he supported accountability and transparency in the evaluation and award process of the contract of the Customs and Excise Building."

The Express said it is not known whether the commission's investigations are continuing or whether it has been completed.

UDeCOTT had awarded the Beverly Hills housing project to Karamath. Express sources say the cost of that project moved from $33 million to $120 million and was plagued by delays. UDeCOTT also awarded Karamath the tender on the Brian Lara Stadium project in Tarouba, which began at $250 million and swelled to $600 million.