PNM says it’s ‘dirty tricks’

“Udecott categorically denies that it is in any way involved in the development, financing, construction, design or engineering of the Church at the Heights of Guanapo,” the company said in a one-sentence release issued by communications coordinator Roxanne Stapleton-Whyms. The company failed to deny that it was ever in the past involved in the project or that Hart once played a role in facilitating the project.

The Udecott release came as the PNM yesterday issued a press release in which it failed to deny any involvement of its political leader Prime Minister Patrick Manning in any aspect of the church being built at the Heights of Guanapo, Arima.

In a press release issued last night, the PNM’s public relations officer Jerry Narace called documents released by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, which have now been referred to the police and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, as “nothing new”.

“The documents presented by the Opposition Leader are the same documents they planned to use in the no confidence motion in Parliament in early April and as such constitutes nothing new,” a release issued on behalf of Narace read.

Without addressing any of the issues raised in the documents, which included plans and correspondence which identify the project’s client as Udecott and allege that “the PM” gave instructions in relation to the church, the unsigned release continued, “the PNM wishes to underscore the categorical statement of the Honourable Prime Minister that no State funds have been used in the construction of the Church of the Light House of the Lord Jesus Christ at the Heights of Guanapo.” The party accused the UNC of attempting to gain mileage in the elections race and of “dirty tricks”. Nowhere in the statement does the party deny that Udecott is listed on plans as client for the project, that former Udecott executive chairman Calder Hart played a role in the project or that Manning issued instructions in relation to the project.