Carnival Centre now costs $500M

Mark was speaking in the debate on the Students’ Revolving Loan Fund Amendment Act. “She is saying $500, but we read in the newspapers it was $700 million, so who is telling the truth,” Mark asked.

When Yuille-Williams first announced the details of the Carnival Centre at a post-Cabinet news conference, she stated it would cost around $750 million. Mark also called on Government to account for the $500 million invested in the University of Trinidad and Tobago.

Noting that Tertiary Education Minister Mustapha Abdul-Hamid had revealed that $500 million had been invested in UTT, Mark asked why were the audited accounts of UTT never tabled in Parliament.

He added that people who came out as doctors and lawyers having benefited from the Student Revolving Loan, refused to repay and in the process locked the doors to others.

Mark also revealed despite Government’s much touted heavy investment in tertiary education, this country had fallen 15 position in the global ranking of countries’ preparedness and competence in Information Technologies.

He quoted from the report which stated that despite the burgeoning economy, a construction boom and the goal of developed country status, Trinidad and Tobago was left behind in the Global Technology rating.

He said Trinidad and Tobago which was ranked 52nd in 2003/4 fell to 59th in 2004/5 and then to 75th in 2005/6.

He said Jamaica was 54th in 2005/6 and Guyana 111th.