Rowley probe to begin next week

Retired Justice Annestine Sealey, engineer Chandrabhan Sharma and architect Eustace Hobson are expected to commence the Commission of Inquiry into allegations of impropriety by Minister of Housing Dr Keith Rowley, on Wednesday. The inquest was sparked by allegations, made by Opposition MP Ganga Singh during last year’s Budget debate, that Rowley was involved in removing materials, equipment and resources from the site of the Scarborough Hospital to his family’s private construction project called “Landate” at Mason Hall.

The commission seeks to determine if Rowley was directly involved in the diversion of resources and equipment, as well as probe the procurement processes and award of all State contracts to NH International and Warner Constructions from 2002. Operating from the commission’s secretariat at the Winsure Building on Richmond Street in Port-of-Spain, the commissioners will be perusing evidence and documents, in addition to calling witnesses who will be accompanied by their lawyers. This will take place before the commission holds public hearings on the issue, which is said to beginning in about a month.