Manning: Lindquist to query $51M WASA ‘bobol’

Renowned forensic investigator Bob Lindquist, who inquired into the Piarco Airport scandal, will be hired by the Government to investigate Opposition claims that $51.5 million was being paid out corruptly as compensation to contractors who were owed no more than $11 million. Prime Minister Patrick Manning announced this yesterday evening in the House of Representatives.

He was replying to a motion on the adjournment by Opposition Chief Whip and Caroni East MP, Ganga Singh. Singh said WASA former acting CEO, Emanuel Romaine, had in 1995 negotiated $240 million in contracts, but was dismissed, and the contracts terminated by successive Boards of WASA. Singh said Romaine’s judicial review of these decisions had failed, and that even upon appeal then Chief Justice Michael de la Bastide had hinted the appeal case was too weak. Saying WASA had paid $2 million to Romaine in the past few months, Singh said: “According to the rules of the Supreme Court this matter was abated, no longer subsisting, yet WASA agreed to $2 million for Emmanuel Romaine...Once (Errol) Grimes became the CEO of WASA you have $2 million going to Romaine”.

Singh continued: “Ernest and Young suggested a figure of settlement of $11 million. Certain monies were paid prior to December, 1995 to Waterfarms and Waterwells. The technical and audited evaluation said pay $11 million, but yet in the last few months they settled some $51.5 million. I call upon the Prime Minister and Attorney General to engage forensic experts to deal with this matter. We want Lindquist...We want forensic experts to look into this matter and report to the national community. This is a matter that requires the intervention of the honourable Prime Minister,” declared Singh.

Minister of Public Utilities Rennie Dumas rose to reply: “As stated in the House on Friday March 21, 2003 in response to a question from the member for Caroni East, settlements by WASA of five legal matters during the period December 2001 to January 2003, are now the subject of an investigation by the central audit committee of the Ministry of Finance. Also the Government has already indicated that it is committed to informing Parliament of the findings of the investigation into these matters as soon as a report is available, and as such  it would be inappropriate for the Government to comment further...”.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning, however, got the House to suspend its Standing Orders so he could make a statement. Manning stated: “I’d like to point out to the honourable member for Caroni East that much of what he has said I am hearing for the first time. I think he is quite justified in requesting forensic investigation into this matter. I now give this honourable house and the national community the assurance that the services of the forensic scientist Lindquist will be retained in this issue. The report will be laid in Parliament and debated. “And of course, Mr Speaker, if anybody is found culpable in this matter then appropriate action will be taken,” added the Prime Minister.