In two weeks’ time, Planning and Development Minister Camille Robinson-Regis will take to Cabinet two audits conducted into operations of the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) which has unearthed a series of irregular transactions between 2010 to 2015.
Thereafter, Robinson-Regis, under whose purview CDA falls, will forward the file to Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi for review.
Robinson-Regis’ assurance came two days after Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley spoke about a $9 million public relations contract awarded to Ross Advertising by the CDA.
Commenting on the contract yesterday, Robinson-Regis said CDA entered into a contract with Ross Advertising in November 2014 for public relations services, including rebranding of the State company for $6 million.
In April 10, 2015, Robinson-Regis said an addendum was made to the contract “for an additional $1.1 million.”
To date, she said $9.2 million was paid “and Ross has subsequently sued the CDA for a further $3.2 million.”
Ross Advertising is owned by Ernie Ross. Ross did not respond to a message which was left with his personal assistant, Nadine Khanai, yesterday.
Robinson-Regis explained that between 2014 and September 2015, CDA paid Ross Advertising $9 million.
“That was $3 million outside of the contract amount. He (Ross) is now asking for $3 million more.”
Following that, Robinson-Regis said the CDA had filed an application to enter its defence, while Ross had filed “for an order for judgment and to have the CDA application for extension to defend this.”
She said the matter was now being pursued in court by the CDA’s legal team, headed by Senior Counsel Elton Prescott.
Robinson-Regis said Ross Advertising was paid $25,000 a month to update CDA’s Facebook page.
“One of the things that I understand that was charged for, apart from this $25,000, there was also a new logo done for the CDA, which was paid for out of this $9 million,” she added.
Following the swearing-in of the CDA board last December, Robinson-Regis requested an internal and financial audit.
The audits were undertaken between January and May, she said.
“I have just got that audit report. Now I am going to present that report to the Cabinet in two weeks time because there are a series of irregular transactions that took place over the last five years concerning the CDA. I would have to take directions from the Cabinet on how to move forward,” she said.
Thereafter it would go into Al-Rawi’s hands, she added.
The audits, conducted by accounting firm Ernst Young, focused on the award of contracts, leases granted and projects initiated under the then People’s Partnership government.
Robinson-Regis refused to divulge their contents.
Questioned if the CDA had received value for money, Robinson-Regis said she had asked the same question.