Oropouche MP Roodal Moonilal has queried whether money laundering occurred with the HDC’s February sale of a $4.5m Victoria Keys penthouse unit.
Speaking on a motion which he piloted in Parliament yesterday, Moonilal named a person who he said was known to the police. He said the person was said to be a victim of many things, from robbery to cheque issues and an accident.
He called on the Government to say if the person was also a victim of a money-laundering probe. Moonilal asked if Housing Minister Randall Mitchell knew the person. He said if the HDC continues like that it would be subject to money laundering.
He said others who obtained Victoria Keys units included an official from the Prime Minister’s office, a Udecott official, a Petrotrin Board member and former Permanent Secretaries.
Moonilal also called for a probe of how auditing firm PWC was recruited to audit the HDC in December 2015—and began seizing staff computers since then—although the HDC Board only approved PWC’s recruitment in January 2016. He queried why PWC was paid US$138,250 for doing a local audit.
He read alleged text messages between Minister Stuart Young and a PWC official and HDC CEO Brent Lyons which he said showed collusion. He said communication on the matter went to Young and not the Housing Minister and a similar occurrence regarding Young and PTSC was already under probe.
Moonilal said he’s taking the PWC issue to the Integrity Commission and police.
However, Housing Minister Randall Mitchell said the person whose name Moonilal raised would deal with him “at the appropriate time.” He said the Housing Minister was never involved in the sale of land at any time. Mitchell added HDC has been operating with the Financial Intelligence Agency to ensure all open market matters are subject to FIU regulations.
Mitchell queried what tendering procedures were done when the People’s Partnership invited a US IT auditing firm to have State accommodation at Federation Villas for the 2013 Emailgate matter.