No record of Cabinet waiving customs duties

CABINET has no record of any decision giving permission to the Customs Department to waive duties to the Airports Authority (AA) for items to be used for the construction of Piarco Airport.

This was confirmed yesterday by Secretary to Cabinet, Andrea Woo-Gabriel, when she was recalled to give evidence before the Commission of Inquiry into the Airport Project. Woo-Gabriel told Commission attorney Margaret Rose, that as requested by the Commission, she had researched the matter. She said she found no Cabinet record showing approval for Customs to waive or remit duties to the AA for speciality equipment which was part of construction package 13. Former AA Chairman Tyrone Gopee in a March 5, 2001 letter to then Transport Minister Jearlean John, claimed customs duties and VAT charges for speciality equipment in CP13 were waived.

Woo-Gabriel was the only person to give evidence yesterday. NIPDEC’s Project Manager ,Kenneth Critchlow, was also scheduled to be questioned by attorney Sean Cazabon, who represents former Housing Minister John Humphrey. However NIPDEC’s attorney, Christopher Hamel-Smith, told the Commission that Critchlow was involved in a minor accident and was unable to attend. The inquiry was adjourned to Tuesday at 9.30 am when Critchlow is expected to appear. Gopee and his attorneys Carol Gobin and Nicole Mohammed are also expected to appear.