PNM sacred cows ‘milked’ $29M from WASA

OPPOSITION Chief Whip Ganga Singh is prepared to meet Canadian Bob Lindquist concerning the investigations into the reported $29 million overpayment to Waterfarms (Trinidad) Limited by the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA). Speaking in the House of Representatives yesterday, Singh was firing on all cylinders capturing the attention of all the members. The former UNC Public Utilities Minister named Rollingson Agard, vice-chairman of WASA and former Diego Martin Central MP Dr Joe Laquis as the persons behind the overpayment. He also named attorney Mark Laquis as being the trustee to a $17-million account opened at a Port-of-Spain bank with monies from the Waterfarms payment.   

Singh’s revelations were made as the House debated the Elections and Boundaries Commission (Local Government) Order 2003. Singh described Agard as a member of the PNM General Council who wields enormous influence and political clout. “By waving the balisier, certain members of the General Council are like sacred cows. They are elevated to the status of above the law,” he added. The former Minister continued, “you have a member of the General Council and a former Member of Parliament going about seeking contributions from the community affiliated with a certain statutory authority.” Singh accused Agard and Laquis of approaching personnel of Waterfarms Limited, which was engaged in legal action with WASA. “This former Member of Parliament went to this person and say, you sue WASA for $22 milion, we would like to settle it. We would like to settle this matter because you are one of us....you are one of us. How much are you prepared to accept? We will get a new legal opinion to settle this matter.

“When they went to this particular contractor and asked how much WASA has for him, he said $22 million. They say that $22 million is for us. Then you have where the matter was agreed upon for $51.1 million. So the contractor will get $22 million and the former Member of Parliament and the General Council member will get all the rest above $22 million to $51.1 million.” Singh said in order to deal with that, “they had to find a way to deal with the money. They then got a willing partner in an attorney at law. The attorney at law is now the property of the loot. I have information that $17 million has been paid into a particular Port-of-Spain bank. Of this $17 million, $10 million has been distributed.”

Attorney General Glenda Morean-Phillip, who was in the Chamber, rose and asked Singh if he would like to make an arrangement to meet with Lindquist, who happens to be in Trinidad. Without giving a commitment, Singh said when he raised this matter on April 17, Prime Minister Patrick Manning intervened and announced that Lindquist will be brought in to investigate. “I was concerned about the destruction of evidence because when we were dealing with this matter, there was an attempt to burn down the WASA Saw House in Carlsen Field. I know what these guys are capable of.” Singh told the House that he wrote to the Prime Minister about the sensitive information. “I am happy that the Attorney General is telling me that Mr Lindquist is here today. If I did not raise this matter, I would not have known that. The Prime Minister has not responded to my letter.”

PM Manning intervened and said he had passed the letter over to the Attorney General. “Because of my concerns, I wrote to the Prime Minister directly. I will make myself available, but he (Prime Minister) ought to pay me the courtesy of replying.” Singh noted that $7 million remains in the account. He then announced that the General Council member was also the vice-chairman of  WASA, and chairman of the Tenders Committee at WASA. The former Minister wanted action on the information. “I am calling to the Anti-Corruption Bureau under Mr Maurice Piggott, who is very silent these days, to go and get a warrant under the Proceeds of Crime Act and secure the documentation.”

He continued, “Rollingson Agard, the vice-chairman of WASA, was part of your election day machinery at Balisier House. He was giving out releases on behalf of the PNM political party in Balisier House. From the time he was made a member of the Board of WASA, he has been utilising his leverage. Nothing cannot happen in WASA unless Mr Rollingson Agard is aware of it.” In allowing Singh an additional 30 minutes’ speaking time, House Speaker Barry Sinanan warned the MP not to tarnish the names of persons who are not in the Chamber to defend themselves. Singh responded, “I am very cognisant of that, Mr Speaker,  that is why I want to give Mr Lindquist my collection, but unfortunately that hasn’t happen, so why not inform the people?

“Mr Agard’s partner is the former Member of Parliament for Diego Martin Central Mr Joe Laquis, and they are now telling Mr Wallace Watkins of Waterfarms Trinidad Limited, a director, do not cooperate with the police. Do not cooperate with the investigators. That is the advice for Mr Watkins.” Singh also revealed that Mark Laquis, an attorney with the firm De La Bastide, Jacelon, Pollonais and Blanc was the trustee of the bank account. “When you wave the party balisier this is what happens, you have a conspiracy that is so deep,” the Opposition Chief Whip added. He also waded into the Government for its CEPEP programme and the undue influence by members of the Jamaat Al Muslimeen who provided thuggery during the last general elections. “The police must enforce the law and not turn a blind eye to the thuggery,” he added.