UNC: Tenders Board bypassed in MV Sonia deal

The United National Congress (UNC) yesterday said the arrangement for the leasing of the MV Sonia was a case of “himself dealing with himself” and said the transaction was hatched “within the bosom of the Ministry of Works and Transport.” Addressing a media briefing at the UNC’s Charles Street office yesterday the UNC chairman,  Wade Mark questioned why the recommendation of S Danoff Ltd of the US  — the broker selected by the evaluation committee of the Central Tenders Board (CTB) was “scrapped” and why the Works Ministry set up its own tenders committee. Danoff’s search, according to Cabinet note,  was based on specifications developed jointly by the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), Port Authority of TT (PATT) and Ministry of Works and Transport. 

Mark referred to the draft Cabinet note, dated June 21 2004, which dealt with the lease of the Incat  Ro/Pax Catamaran.  According to the note, in August 2003, the Tenders Board, based on newly developed specifications for a high speed ferry, and after evaluating the short-list of such vessels provided by S Danoff, the Incat was the most appropriate choice. Mark charged that S Danoff was paid TT $3 million to search for a vessel. “They got the vessel, a note was prepared for the Cabinet of this country and lo and behold the MV Sonia arrived in Port-of-Spain for US$24,000.”

According to the Cabinet note, in August 2003 the CTB evaluation committee, based on newly developed specifications and after evaluation of the short list recommended that the Incat 062 98m Wave Piercing Ro/Pax Catamaran “was the most appropriate choice.” In June, last year the CTB appointed a negotiating team to meet, along with a representative of S Danoff USA to meet with representatives of Incat Europe “with a view towards the negotiation of a lease of Incat 062, with an option to purchase the vessel once Government is satisfied with the efficacy of the vessel on the inter-island route.” Mark called for the Works Minister to disclose the arrangement with International Shipping Partners (ISP), which is leasing the MV Sonia.

He said the UNC has learnt that ISP was given a contract worth $5.1 million to dry dock MV Tobago when it was done free of charge by the Port Authority. “We want to know why is ISP getting all this work from the Government,” he said. Former Works Minister, the UNC’s party organiser, Sadiq Baksh wanted to know if the latest transport study was a delay tactic not to start on improvements needed. “Will they say they will not be going to build the interchange on the Churchill-Roosevelt because they are studying the traffic problem. Are they saying they are not extending the Solomon Hochoy Highway?”