Kamla: Las Alturas not about me

Responding to the statement Al-Rawi made at the post-Cabinet news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair, last Thursday, the former prime minister declared, “I had nothing to do with the fiasco that is the Las Alturas project.

The AG must answer for his role in same.” Pe r sad-Bi s s e s s ar claimed this was a “preposterous allegation by the AG to distract from whatever may be his own culpability re that project.” She stated there has been no interference with the work of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into Las Alturas, which was appointed under the PP and concluded its work under the ruling People’s National Movement.

Persad-Bissessar reiterated, “If there is any misbehaviour in public office, it could be that of the AG and his cohorts and no one else.” Moonilal said the smoke and mirrors game which Al-Rawi played at Thursday’s briefing, “borders on flat out dishonesty.” He argued it was a matter of record that Al-Rawi sat as a member of the board of HDC and would have acted as legal advisor to other members.

On Thursday, Al-Rawi indicated he served on the HDC board from November 21, 2006 to March 13, 2009. Quoting from the COI report, Al-Rawi said construction of failed towers H and I began in December 2008, suffered structural stress in the latter part of 2009 and it was clear that “action for recovery of losses” against the contractor of those towers, China Jiangsu, and others was required. Al-Rawi also said Government has received preliminary legal advice which raises questions about the contents of the COI report, noted the inquiry’s cost had climbed to $40 million and the HDC has initiated civil action against China Jiangsu.