Gopeesingh vs Garcia over EFCL

Gopeesingh said persons at the EFCL had breached the State performance monitoring manual, leading to a wanton wastage and siphoning of tax-payers dollars.

He said a Senate query had led Garcia to say he had no information of any corrupt activities, yet Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi had been already investigating the matter.

Gopeesingh asked why 10 staff members at the EFCL have not had their contracts renewed and why was the IT manager been suspended? He suggested the suspension was due to a suspicion that the manager was a whistle-blower.

“The 10 employees became collateral damage when there was a feud between the Minister of Education and the EFCL chairman.” Referring to ongoing probes, he said, “We demand the results of this investigation be made public in this Parliament.” he urged the report be sent to the Integrity Commission and Director of Public Prosecutions.

Gopeesingh alleged that million- dollar contracts were awarded by personal email, with contractors allowed to tender even after deadline for the close of tenders.

Garcia accused Gopeesingh of “false statements”. He accused Gopeesingh of suffering from “ministerial tabanca”, adding, “He continues on his campaign to spread untruths and twist things for his own benefits.” Refuting Gopeesingh’s claims that 10 people had been fired, Garcia said their contracts had come to an end and were not renewed.

“Secondly, he continues to say my adviser took a cheque to EFCL so that a contractor could be paid, again, that is not true. What happened is that my adviser accompanied a contractor. She had nothing to do with the payment of the cheque to the contractor.” Opposition MPs laughed.

Garcia said it was “totally false” for Gopeesingh to allege a war between Garcia and the former EFCL chairman.

Denying claims of failing to fully probe the EFCL for impropriety and corruption, Garcia said Finance Minister Colm Imbert on May 31 had told the House of an investigation into EFCL by his ministry’s Central Audit.

Garcia said Al-Rawi said his ministry is also conducting a parallel investigation.

“It is therefore patently incorrect for the Member for Caroni East to say this Government has not conducted a thorough investigation into these matters. These investigations continue apace,” said Garcia.