Airport Inquiry — Week in Review

The Commission of Inquiry into the Piarco Airport Project has entered its second phase. That is the phase where persons who were implicated by the evidence of witnesses are summoned to appear to challenge the evidence by cross examination, direct evidence or by calling supporting witnesses. The Commission has sat for 140 days. It will resume on tomorrow.

Monday
Figures hidden from public —Airport cost jumps from $650M to $1.6B

Former Works and Transport Minister Senator Sadiq Baksh and former NIPDEC Director Trevor Romano knew the Piarco Airport Project would cost a billion dollars instead of the budgeted $650 million, but opted to keep that fact hidden for fear that the public would not accept the billion dollar project. The revelation was made by the Ministry of Works and Transport client representative Peter Cateau when he continued his evidence on Monday. Cateau’s disclosure came when he was being questioned by the Commission’s lead attorney, Theodore Guerra, SC, based on the contents of a confidential letter Cateau sent to Guerra dated April 17, 2003. Cateau vowed in the letter to “reveal things to stop the deliberate distortion of facts”. Cateau stated in part in the letter that recent observations had moved him to make known “revealing things which need to be said” as it related to his former boss Minister of Works and Transport Sadiq Baksh, Trevor Romano, main contractor NCL and other contractors, Birk Hillman Consultants (BHC), NIPDEC and Justin Paul, his Permanent Secretary.

He said the revelations had to be made, but he cautiously added that “it might result in my life being at risk and I trust you will protect me”. Questioned by Guerra about the revealing issues concerning Baksh, Cateau said when he came on the project in 1998 as client representative, he was concerned about the project budget and arrangements in place for the project. He said although the budget was $650 million, he knew with the addition of VAT and fees to BHC and NIPDEC, the budget would have been closer to a billion dollars. Cateau said he expressed his concerns about the budget to Baksh during a meeting with Trevor Romano and Justin Paul, a Permanent Secretary. However he said Romano commented that making the budget of one billion known to the public might not accept the project and Baksh agreed with him. Baksh did not say no, he emphasised to the Commission. Cateau also said he had requested from Baksh that a financial audit be done on the project but Baksh never complied.

Tuesday
Cateau agrees Baksh ‘scuttled’ Cabinet directive

US based company Cal-maquip got favourable treatment from former Works and Transport Minister Sadiq Baksh. The company through an irregular process received the contract to provide speciality equipment for the Piarco airport under CP 13, but although Peter Cateau felt it was wrong he went ahead and recommended Calmaquip as contractors, out of fear of losing his job. He also agreed that Baksh scuttled a Cabinet directive to hire the Director of Highways as part of the technical team to oversee the project. Cateau, questioned by lead attorney for the Commission Theodore Guerra, SC, said although he made the recommendation for Calmaquip to get CP 13, he was left out of everything else relating to Calmaquip and only found out the contract had been awarded after the contract was signed.

Asked why he thought he was left out, Cateau said, “Maybe when it comes to making straightforward professional decisions Peter Cateau is left out.” Cateau said the AA Board chaired by Tyrone Gopee after recommending that Calmaquip be awarded the contract, went on the international market to secure the loan to finance the contract, which was guaranteed by government, although it was Calmaquip’s duty to raise its own funds. Cateau said he raised the issue with Baksh about the way the contract was executed after he learnt Calmaquip was awarded the contract. However he said Baksh told him, “Things will sort themselves out.” Cateau said he knew that would not be so. Asked why Calmaquip may have be favoured by Baksh, Cateau said he couldn’t say. Cateau also said Baksh and the AA scuttled a Cabinet directive to hire R Castro, the Director of Highways, as part of the technical team overseeing the project.

Wednesday
Bernard rebukes Law Association

Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry into the Piarco Airport Project, retired Chief Justice Clinton Bernard on Wednesday rebuked the Law Association of TT for its uninformed and “belligerent approach” to the Inquiry. He said the Association has made several statements in the media without first apprising itself with the correspondence passing between the Inquiry and persons interested in its proceedings. Bernard’s latest defence of the Inquiry which entered its 140-day on Wednesday followed the publication by Newsday of the contents of a letter (dated April 28) sent by the Council of the Law Association to the Commission. In it the Council cautioned against following the advice of Lord Justice Scott of the Privy Council with respect to procedures at public inquiries.

The Council also enclosed an article by Lord Howe of Aberavon which criticised the Scott Inquiry’s refusal to afford persons appearing to have legal representation. Bernard said it was “utterly misleading” to the uninformed reader for the Association to advise caution as it must be aware the Scott Inquiry was conducted within parameters of a statute different from this country’s Commission of Inquiry Act. He welcomed any other comments it wished to make about the procedures adopted at the Inquiry.