{"id":3579,"date":"2018-01-10T07:44:16","date_gmt":"2018-01-10T12:44:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/projectcalls.com\/?p=3579"},"modified":"2018-01-09T18:50:06","modified_gmt":"2018-01-09T23:50:06","slug":"unfair-politics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/unfair-politics\/","title":{"rendered":"‘UNFAIR POLITICS’"},"content":{"rendered":"

FOR five kilometres of road, contractor Arvin Kalloo and his company Kall Co are now at the centre of criticism about his company\u2019s political connections.<\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t matter that at $400 million, Kall Co\u2019s bid was the lowest of the lot.<\/p>\n

This works out to $80 million for one kilometre of highway.<\/p>\n

What has sparked concern is how closely affiliated he was to the former People\u2019s Partnership government, how his company received hundreds of millions in State contracts, how Kall Co was fired from the Maracas Beach upgrade and how its offices were recently raided by the Anti-Corruption Bureau.<\/p>\n

Also, the familial connection between Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan and the Kalloo family has raised questions of possible nepotism.<\/p>\n

Kalloo, the chairman of construction company Kall Co, says the criticism is unfair.<\/p>\n

The Churchill-Roosevelt Highway extention to Manzanilla, the first phase of which is five kilometres long, is the first major infrastructure project of the People\u2019s National Movement (PNM) Government after two years in office.<\/p>\n

The construction of the highway extension to Point Fortin resumed earlier this year by contractor Junior Sammy, and the Government also announced its intention to construct the Curepe Interchange, a project initially embarked upon by the former People\u2019s Partnership government but later shelved.<\/p>\n

The project is to be funded through the Government\u2019s Infrastructure Development Fund.<\/p>\n

In the face of transparency questions of political ties, Kalloo told the Sunday Express many of them are unfair and ill-founded.<\/p>\n

He noted out of 20-plus jobs for which the Kall Co tendered at the National Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (NIDCO), he was awarded only two in the past two years.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe won this job after a rigorous tender. We are committed to using local content throughout this project which, we think, will positively impact on the economy,\u201d he told the Sunday Express yesterday.<\/p>\n

Kalloo said the cost of the project to taxpayers was insured, as it is backed by bonds.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe bonds are stringent. If, for any reason, we do not deliver, the Government can cash in. We just want to do the work,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis job is just five kilometres. Kall Co has built more than 200 km of roads with a team of experienced engineers. We will deliver,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\u2026 more<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Image:\u00a0punttim<\/a>\u00a0(Pixabay)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

FOR five kilometres of road, contractor Arvin Kalloo and his company Kall Co are now at the centre of criticism about his company\u2019s political connections. It doesn\u2019t matter that at…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":4087,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[112],"tags":[157,146,125,137],"class_list":["post-3579","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-newsdevelopments","tag-anti-corruption","tag-procedures","tag-public-procurement","tag-trinidad-and-tobago"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/roadway-punttim-Pixabay.jpg?fit=1024%2C684&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6u9Qa-VJ","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6138,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/local-contractors-save-govt\/","url_meta":{"origin":3579,"position":0},"title":"Local contractors save govt $$","author":"Michele Marius","date":"July 5, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Government\u2019s decision to use local contractors for the continuation of the Solomon Hochoy Highway Extension to Point Fortin has saved taxpayers millions of dollars, Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan has reported. As he joined Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Communications Minister Stuart Young to open completed segments of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News\/Developments"","block_context":{"text":"News\/Developments","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/newsdevelopments\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Money-cash-US-Dollars-Pixabay-Pexels.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Money-cash-US-Dollars-Pixabay-Pexels.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Money-cash-US-Dollars-Pixabay-Pexels.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Money-cash-US-Dollars-Pixabay-Pexels.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Money-cash-US-Dollars-Pixabay-Pexels.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":20919,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/top-us-trade-body-singles-out-bribes-of-convenience\/","url_meta":{"origin":3579,"position":1},"title":"Top US Trade Body Singles Out \u2018Bribes Of Convenience\u2019","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"February 24, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Bahamas \u00a0 The Bahamian political system is \u201cbeleaguered by reports of corruption\u201d, a newly-released US government report has asserted, singling out what it labelled as \u201csmall scale \u2018bribes of convenience\u2019\u201d. The US Trade Representative\u2019s Office, in its latest report on The Bahamas and other Caribbean nations that benefit from the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pexels-rodnae-productions-7841451-scaled-e1645731888257.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pexels-rodnae-productions-7841451-scaled-e1645731888257.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pexels-rodnae-productions-7841451-scaled-e1645731888257.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/pexels-rodnae-productions-7841451-scaled-e1645731888257.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":18108,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/us-says-efforts-to-tackle-corruption-are-not-enough\/","url_meta":{"origin":3579,"position":2},"title":"US Says Efforts To Tackle Corruption Are Not Enough","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"August 26, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Bahamas\u00a0 THE United States continues to highlight the inadequacy of local legislation and enforcement efforts to combat corruption and conflicts of interest in public office. In its latest Investment report, the US said the political system of The Bahamas remains \u201cplagued by reports of corruption, including allegations of widespread patronage,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News\/Developments"","block_context":{"text":"News\/Developments","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/newsdevelopments\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/pexels-cottonbro-5909798-scaled.jpg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/pexels-cottonbro-5909798-scaled.jpg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/pexels-cottonbro-5909798-scaled.jpg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/pexels-cottonbro-5909798-scaled.jpg?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":18114,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/govt-must-talk-less-show-more-over-procurement-transparency\/","url_meta":{"origin":3579,"position":3},"title":"Govt Must Talk Less, Show More Over Procurement Transparency","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"August 26, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Bahamas It was really not my intention to write another article before September, but so much has been happening on the public procurement front lately that I believe I am duty bound to respond to these issues. On July 21, 2021, the US State Department released its annual Investment Climate\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News\/Developments"","block_context":{"text":"News\/Developments","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/newsdevelopments\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/pexels-sora-shimazaki-5668873-scaled.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/pexels-sora-shimazaki-5668873-scaled.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/pexels-sora-shimazaki-5668873-scaled.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/pexels-sora-shimazaki-5668873-scaled.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":20034,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/chinese-and-brazilian-firms-in-running-for-billion-dollar-linden-to-mabura-hill-road-project\/","url_meta":{"origin":3579,"position":4},"title":"Chinese and Brazilian firms in running for billion-dollar Linden to Mabura Hill road project","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"January 6, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Guyana The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)-funded Linden to Mabura Hill road construction and upgrading project has attracted billion-dollar bids from Chinese and Brazilian companies. The bids for the project were opened on Wednesday at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board at the Ministry of Finance offices in Georgetown. Three\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/pexels-frans-van-heerden-638487-scaled-e1641392413167.jpg?fit=1025%2C684&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/pexels-frans-van-heerden-638487-scaled-e1641392413167.jpg?fit=1025%2C684&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/pexels-frans-van-heerden-638487-scaled-e1641392413167.jpg?fit=1025%2C684&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/pexels-frans-van-heerden-638487-scaled-e1641392413167.jpg?fit=1025%2C684&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":20642,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/govt-gets-multiple-bidders-for-work-on-bridge-linking-suriname\/","url_meta":{"origin":3579,"position":5},"title":"Gov\u2019t gets multiple bidders for work on bridge linking Suriname","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"February 10, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Guyana \u00a0 GEORGETOWN (CMC): Guyana said on Monday it had received bids from several companies seeking to conduct the feasibility study and preliminary design for the construction of the Corentyne River Bridge linking the country with Suriname. It said that the bids were opened last week at the National Procurement\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/construction-worker-gaa6117ab7_1920-e1644524313726.jpg?fit=1025%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/construction-worker-gaa6117ab7_1920-e1644524313726.jpg?fit=1025%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/construction-worker-gaa6117ab7_1920-e1644524313726.jpg?fit=1025%2C683&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/construction-worker-gaa6117ab7_1920-e1644524313726.jpg?fit=1025%2C683&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3579","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3579"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3579\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4088,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3579\/revisions\/4088"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4087"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3579"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3579"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3579"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}