Transport Minister Stephen Cadiz says statements made by People’s National Movement (PNM) political leader Dr Keith Rowley concerning the cost of the Motor Vehicle Authority were “wrong and totally misleading.”
At a political meeting on Thursday night at Massy carpark, St Augustine, he claimed the cost of the facility at Caroni had been budgeted for at $339 million but was now over $1 billion.
“That was typical of the Opposition Leader to throw out figures without any thought and research. Those figures were totally erroneous,” Cadiz said yesterday, when asked to respond to Rowley’s statements.
He said Rowley’s figures were from an estimated budget which had been rejected by the Government.
“At no time did the Ministry of Transport accept any billion-dollar proposal for the Motor Vehicle Authority.”
Cadiz said the MVA headquarters was completed within budget but was part of a multiple-facility project, which included new or refurbished offices in Arima, San Fernando and Tobago.
Cadiz said the Caroni head office was constructed at a cost of $232 million. The contract was awarded to United National Congress party financier Super Industrial Services. And he estimated the other facilities will be completed at a cost of about $200 million. He said the MVA will provide counter and full inspection services.
Rowley told supporters at the political meeting that the cost of the facility, which included a new head office and other buildings across the country had increased from the original estimated price of $339 million to over $1 billion.
Rowley said the cost of the new facility had been estimated to cost $45 million when the Kamla Persad-Bissessar Government assumed office.
The Opposition Leader also said the Prime Minister rushed to have the Children’s Hospital constructed in Couva and weeks after it was opened it was only collecting cobweb and dust as there was no staff to work there.
He also accused the People’s Partnership Government of failing to renew the contracts of some 8,000 people since it assumed office in 2010. Rowley was also critical of the PP’s 2015 election manifesto, saying the proposal to make the Brian Lara Stadium at Tarouba into an sporting academy was a laughing matter.
Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly and deputy political leader of the PNM, Orville London also spoke at the meeting saying that he was confident the PNM would be returned to power after the September 7 election.
He said the two Tobago candidates were going to be among the party’s winning candidates. He told PNM supporters they should ensure the party win the elections to restore good governance to the country.
“On September 7, let’s do this in defence of our nation,” he said.
London said the election was “a battle for the soul of the nation.”
London said Finance and the Economy Minister Larry Howai’s admission that the budget has to be adjusted was a clear indication that the country was in real trouble.
“This country is in free fall and you need somebody with the courage, the resilience, with the vision and the instrument to ensure that we rescue T&T,” he added.