Why was TCL rejected for Piarco runway paving?

THE EDITOR: We learn from Minister Franklin Khan that the $27 million paving job at Piarco has run into some trouble and may have to be re-done at considerable cost and inconvenience to the travelling public. The performance of the contractors and the consultants is being questioned. The Minister should, however, investigate the competence of his own ministry in evaluating the tenders. On what  basis did his technocrats disqualify Trinidad Contractors Ltd, which has successfully executed six runway jobs throughout the Caribbean, all to international standards. This firm is acknowledged as having the most experience in airport runway construction in the Caribbean.

To work in Tobago, St Vincent, St Kitts, Tortola, Beef Island, and Vigie St Lucia required onerous mobilisation, yet they were rejected for Piarco right under their nose. When the ministry engineers for the CR/Butler Highway interchange evaluated Spancrete, their engineers asked not a single question during a plant visit, but were able to submit a poor biased evaluation. They simply lacked any knowledge or experience of the precast concrete industry and did not know what to ask. The contractor chosen for Piarco was not known to have paved any runway previously. Yet Trinidad Contractors’ tender was returned unopened without any reasons given. All this Mr Manning should investigate, and keep out of the Red House.

MICHAEL J WILLIAMS
Maracas