PAEC concerned about CISL

In summarising the concerns of committee members during a public hearing with CISL representatives at Tower D of the Port-of-Spain International Waterfront Centre, PAEC chairman Wade Mark called upon the Community Development Ministry and the Investments Division of the Finance Ministry to “step up their game” as it involves the monitoring of State Enterprises and special purpose companies in TT.

Mark expressed the PAEC’s alarm that neither of these entities seemed to be aware of the existence of the PWC report or its contents until very recently.

He said such a situation was unacceptable when it came to ensuring proper accountability of taxpayers’ monies and ensuring that State entities do not act as laws unto themselves. “We are shocked, Mark said. He also expressed concern about a lack of documentation regarding projects undertaken by CISL during the period 2005 to 2010 and one instance where a project started at $1.5 million but was completed at a cost of $180,000.

CISL chairman Raees Patel said there was an absence of documentation prior to his time and this issue is being addressed.

Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste- Primus said the PWC report showed that CISL had “many weaknesses.” She listed some of these as an absence of documented policies regarding projects undertaken by CISL in the 2012 to 2014 period. “All is not well in the organisation. All is not well in the Kingdom of Heaven,” Baptiste- Primus said.

Tourism Minister Shamfa Cudjoe observed the company’s expenditure regarding telecommunications was particularly high.

In response, Patel said that cost has been reduced through the use of Wi-Fi and messaging. Social Development Minister Cherrie Ann Crichlow Cockburn spoke about a centre for disabled persons that was built by CISL under the former People’s Partnership (PP) government which still cannot be used to this day. As an example, Crichlow Cockburn said the centre had an elevator which could not accommodate a person in a wheelchair.