Garcia insists No special treatment for contractor

Gopeesingh yesterday wrote the Integrity Commission on this issue and called on the Commission to investigate it. Contrary to articles published in the Sunday Express and the Trinidad Express on May 7 and 9 respectively, Garcia said, investigations by his permanent secretary have found claims to be baseless.

“The sum involved as payment was $510,000, not $2 million.” He said Wilkinson was given the cheque by the ministry’s director of finance and accounts, “to take to the EFCL in order to facilitate timely payment to the contractor as had been promised by both the ministry and EFCL.” Garcia said the contractor was the first to complete his assignment at the Malick Secondary School and, “was entitled to payment for this job done.” The minister said this project fell under the Morvant Laventille Initiative for which there is a separate fund to, “facilitate timely payments where work has been completed.” He added that the contractors involved in this initiative reside in the Laventille/Morvant district.

In his letter to the Commission, Gopeesingh claimed this transaction was a breach of Section 24 of the Integrity in Public Life Act.

He said the contractor was incorporated in 2014 and was “a sham” company. Gopeesingh was education minister in former People’s Partnership government in 2014.

Speaking with reporters before the sitting, Gopeesingh said ministers’ advisors are not covered by the Act. “There is no statutory or fiduciary responsibility for a minister’s advisor,” he stated. Asked if he expected the Commission to resolve this matter expeditiously, Gopeesingh replied,”You can’t force them in terms of their timing but I guess they will sense the necessity of looking after it at the appropriate time.”