UNC wants Plipdeco probe

THE OPPOSITION United National Congress (UNC) yesterday called on the Government and Junior Finance Minister Christine Sahadeo to investigate alleged corruption at Plipdeco surrounding the purchase of an allegedly “defective foreign-used crane.”

In a statement, the UNC called for an independent forensic audit of Plipdeco’s books and an investigation into the reported purchase of a “US$4 million crane.” The Opposition also called on the Public Accounts Enterprises Committee “to immediately take steps to investigate these questionable and suspicious financial transactions involving Plipdeco.” The party claimed that newspaper reports said Plipdeco chairman Commander Kayam Mohammed ignored the advice of senior company managers “who advised against the purchase of the crane” and called for the immediate resignation of the entire Plipdeco Board.

“The Board of Plipdeco must explain to its shareholders and the people of TT what were the factors that led to its decision to purchase this foreign-used crane from Fantuzzi. The Board must also state why it disregarded and discarded recommendations from the company’s senior managers who advised against this purchase. It should also disclose all of the details regarding the relationship between its members and representatives of Fantuzzi,” the UNC declared.