Cateau: overburdened ‘watchdog’ with no UNC help

MINISTRY of Works and Transport (MOWT) representative on the Piarco Airport Project, Peter Cateau, was an overburdened “watchdog” who received no help from the former United National Congress (UNC) Government to ensure that the project was properly completed. 

Cateau was also doubly stressed by the belief that former Works Minister Jearlean John was out to get him.
This was the testimony of former Transition Manager Jude Alibey as the Commission of Inquiry into the Project continued at the Caribbean Court of Justice yesterday. Questioned by Cateau’s attorney, Keith Scotland, Alibey said that given the “tremendous magnitude” of the project, a team of competent and qualified persons was required to successfully undertake all aspects of it. He identified some of those persons as a qualified accountant with some experience in governmental affairs, architect, quantity surveyor, engineer and even an attorney-at law.  However Alibey said Cateau was not provided with any support personnel, even on a part-time basis, and had to juggle a multitude of responsibilities. Asked if a special unit should have been responsible for paying site contractors, Alibey said this should have been done.  He added that this was “an impossible task for one man to do” and Cateau was “overburdened”.

During earlier testimony, Alibey said he had not received much help from Cateau in getting things done.  Questioned about this, in the context of Cateau’s workload, Alibey conceded that Cateau “assisted when he could”.  Alibey said when his team was created in March 2001, Cateau was still carrying the entire load of the project on his shoulders and seemed under pressure to ensure its completion by May 25, 2001.  He claimed Cateau seemed to be fearful that “someone in authority” was out to get him. Alibey hinted that this perception could have been fuelled by John’s way of getting things done. Alibey denied the former minister ever gave direct instructions to Cateau during meetings she held with project stakeholders. He added that John simply expressed her opinion to Cateau during those meetings. Alibey then revealed that a meeting was held on January 30, 1999 to discuss an accelerated schedule for works at the airport. Among those present at the meeting were former ministers John Humphrey (who chaired it), Sadiq Baksh and Ganga Singh and an expenditure of $30 million to construct a second floor in the connector building of the new terminal building was discussed. Alibey said the minutes of that meeting showed that Cateau said he had not received Cabinet approval for those funds but Humphrey said that decision had been taken at a previous meeting.

 Scotland declared that in light of this evidence, Cateau was a “watchdog” and not a “pompek”. Alibey then referred to Cabinet notes dated January 12, 2000 and January 24, 2000 which outlined a change in the scope of works on the terminal building with an approved expenditure of $50 million ($45 million for construction) and these works providing 50,000 square metres of space respectively. The source of both notes was the MOWT. Alibey also said when John assumed Baksh’s portfolio and switched from change orders to open tender, allowance had to be made for any change orders that were still in train. Alibey said despite the heavy burden placed on his shoulders, Cateau tried to see if personnel vacancies at the Project could be met. He recalled that former Airport finance manager Joshey Mahabir was also acting as Commercial Development Manager, even though Mahabir was not qualified for that post. Alibey conceded that up to today, several of those vacancies have not been addressed. He said he was unaware of Cateau being involved in any type of sabotage at the project but conceded there may have been security lapses. Former Airport security manager Dennis John was present during Alibey’s testimony.

Alibey then referred to a flurry of correspondence from March 15 to 17, 2001 between Cateau, John and AA chairman Tyrone Gopee regarding certain concerns raised by John over the imminent opening of the terminal on May 25, 2001. He said from the March 17 letter, Cateau admitted that while the concerns raised by Gopee did not fall within his purview, he would do what he could to assist. The hearing was briefly disrupted as Commission attorney Theodore Guerra SC and Scotland quibbled over the submission of selected documents by the latter into evidence. Commission chairman, retired Chief Justice Clinton Bernard, resolved the matter and all counsels were provided with copies of the said documents.
Scotland will continue his cross-examination of Alibey when the Commission resumes today. Prior to the start of yesterday’s hearing, John was informed to return today so the Commission could decide when her cross-examination would begin.