Ganga charges Rowley with corruption

PANDEMONIUM broke out in Parliament yesterday when Opposition Chief Whip Ganga Singh accused Housing Minister Dr Keith Rowley of siphoning off  labour and materials from the Scarborough Regional Hospital Project in Signal Hill, and using them on a private sector project allegedly named “Land Date” which he was undertaking on nearby lands in Mason Hall. However when Prime Minister Patrick Manning attempted to respond to Singh’s calls for an investigation, he was shouted down by UNC MPs and Government was forced to flex its parliamentary muscle in order to allow him to speak. On Wednesday, Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday demanded an inquiry into cost overruns on the hospital and said there was an allegation that Rowley was “in bed” with hospital contractor NH International, which is owned by Emile Elias. Singh yesterday produced six envelopes of documents which alleged that NH International was sending labour and materials from the hospital site to the Land Date project from September 2003 to April 2004.

He produced an email, jconnan@ nhit.ct.com, allegedly sent on September 29, 2003, from NH International’s Managing Director John Connan to two persons named Jim Duffy and Geoff Gray regarding work at Land Date. Quoting from the email, Singh evoked an uproar when he said: “Simon Ragbir. He will live at Rowley’s flat that we rent already. I told him to contact him regarding requisitioning of materials, plans, petty cash.” Singh declared: “We require a thorough investigation of the Scarborough Hospital. That all contracts awarded to Emile Elias by this Government when Rowley was Minister of Planning and Development and as Minister of Housing ought to be investigated. The Minister ought to excuse himself from the investigative process pending the investigation. It is clear to us on this side that what you have in this case is what is happening in several areas of this country. We do not want an explanation Prime Minister.

Even if it is only the appearance of impropriety, you cannot have a sitting minister overseeing billions of contracts going to a contractor and then benefitting that way. That is not done!” He even supplied some pictures of the alleged Land Date site to the Prime Minister. Manning hinted that he wished to respond to Singh’s charges but was advised by House Speaker Barry Sinanan that he could only do so “If it is the wish of the House.” Sinanan then announced: “The Prime Minister cannot speak now. If now however, the House now regulates its own self, if it is the wish of the House to hear the Prime Minister, then so be it. Is it the wish of the House?” His request was bluntly refused by some UNC MPs with Couva South MP Kelvin Ramnath being the apparent ringleader to prevent Manning from speaking. The Government eventually used its parliamentary majority to allow Manning to speak. Manning gave the House the undertaking that the matter will be thoroughly investigated and the results laid in Parliament. The Budget debate resumes today at 10 am.