PP slammed for Red House

Recalling that Parliament was relocated from the Red House to Tower D of the Portof- Spain International Waterfront Centre in 2011, Young said, “The question must arise as to what happened in the period 2011 to 2015, the period when Senator Mark held that position as Speaker of the House.” Indicating that as Speaker Mark chaired a steering committee which was dealing with restoration of the Red House, Young disclosed, “In the period 2012 to 2015, they tried to restore the roof of the Red House and that is now a national scandal presided over by the goodly Senator Mark, where over $23 million were expended.” While the technocrats at the time advised the committee to terminate the contractor, “who had absolutely no experience in building roofs,” Young said, “No termination took place until this administration came in and took charge of it.” Referring to Mark’s earlier contribution, Young said $13.7 million was spent over three years on a companion building for the Red House. “You found coins for $13.7 million? That must have been a lot of coins,” Young observed.

After indicating consultancy fees at that time amounted to $26 million, Young told Mark, “In total, you oversaw the expenditure of $47.5 million of taxpayers’ money, excluding VAT, and you still think the taxpayers want you to oversee this?” Senators expressed shock when Young said the PP approved a sum of $744 million for the restoration of the entire parliamentary precinct, including the Red House. Indicating a companion building was part of this project, Young said that would have cost taxpayers $411 million, had it been constructed.

He said the People’s National Movement has ensured there would be “substantial savings” to taxpayers by clearing and outfitting Cabildo Chambers as the companion building instead of constructing a new building.

On the advice of the Cabinet’s Historical Restoration Sub-committee, which is chaired by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, Young said the approved budget for the restoration of the parliamentary precinct is $241 million. Other members of the committee are Young, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, Finance Minister Colm Imbert and Planning Minister Camille Robinson- Regis.

Young said the Urban Development Corporation of TT has issued 15 packages of works for the Red House and is undertaking an open competitive tendering process to select contractors to undertake these works. He said the project should be completed before 2019. At the appropriate time, he said, a joint select committee will be appointed for the accommodation of the Parliament.