Moonilal links Al-Rawi, Garcia to Las Alturas

Moonilal sought to refute remarks by Finance Minister Colm Imbert at a People’s National Movement (PNM) meeting on Tuesday in Mt D’Or that only two apartment bocks were faulty and that these were built after the tenure of Garcia and Al-Rawi.

Moonilal said, “The latest rant and blame game from a Government official does not alter the raw facts of a PNM regime’s direct responsibility for the Las Alturas housing fiasco.” He dubbed Imbert the Government’s “public defender, fault-finder and spin-doctor” on the Las Alturas project, which cost taxpayers some $80 million. “In characteristic fashion, Mr Imbert skewed the facts, pointed fingers and uttered reckless and slanderous allegations,” said Moonilal, adding: “But he was unable to debunk the truth borne out in the report of the commission of enquiry and the timeline of activities which I had earlier presented. “The documented reality is that Faris Al-Rawi was a director and Noel Garcia was managing director of the Housing Development Corporation at the time of the decision to construct apartment buildings on volatile lands and without official approval. Dr Keith Rowley was Minister of Housing at the material time.” Moonilal said that today Garcia and Al-Rawi hold top national posts, presiding over policies and budgets, shielded by their Government colleagues.

“Of note, also, is that the Government had until March 2016 — six months after it came into national office — to initiate legal action on the matter,” Moonilal said. He urged Prime Minister Rowley to show good governance by dismissing Al-Rawi and Garcia.

“Failing that, Dr Rowley would be guilty of complicity in the multi-million-dollar Las Alturas waste. He would also be responsible for endorsing and upholding two officials who were guilty of a breach of their fiduciary duties and who do not enjoy the public’s trust,” Moonilal said.