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Govt to probe $40m bill for 3-day event

Planning and Development Minister Camille Robinson-Regis says the new PNM Government is probing a three-day event under the former PP government which cost taxpayers an estimated $40 million.

She raised the issue during her brief presentation to the Standing Committee of Finance in the House of Representatives yesterday. 

Later in an interview with reporters, Robinson-Regis said: “We have clear evidence of the Americas Competitiveness Forum costing in the region of $40 million for probably about three days and our competitiveness index did not improve.”

She added: “$40 million was spent on a three or four-day forum, additionally, the corruption index increased and so we have that to grapple with in that ministry.”

Robinson-Regis said there were “also instances of other activities taking place that are not above board in the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) and we will be examining all those areas.” 

In the Standing Committee former planning and sustainable development minister Caroni Central MP Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie made several unsuccessful attempts to raise questions on the matter. 

House Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George, who chaired the five-day meeting, repeatedly told Tewarie he was seeking to raise questions under the wrong head.

That prompted Tewarie to say: “This is not a school. It is a Parliament,” causing the Speaker to demand that he withdraw the comment. After some moments Tewarie later withdrew the remark. 

Later during an interview with reporters, during the 4.30 pm tea break, Tewarie accused Robinson-Regis of using the Standing Finance Committee to make accusations that are both political and fiduciary.

Tewarie said he found that “to be unreasonable in a Parliament in which we are representing people.” He noted the Government had a “full opportunity to express their (its) position but we have no opportunity to rebut or to challenge the allegation.”

Indicating that while he was not making any allegations against the Speaker, Tewarie added: “That role demands a certain equanimity and it requires balance. “Whatever you do for one side you got to be prepared to make the accommodation on the other side.”

Robinson-Regis also said her comments in the Parliament was not linked to the former minister.

Robinson-Regis was also asked to comment on her statement in Parliament a few weeks ago, when she said: “We are in charge now.”

She said she had no regrets about the statement, adding it was made against the background that the Government had a very limited time to have the 2016 budget passed. 

“All I was indicating is that our agenda must be set in a way that is in the interest of the people of T&T. I do not regret the statement but if it was offensive to anybody in the national community then that is the only thing I can say but it is in fact where we are.”


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