{"id":36213,"date":"2024-09-12T23:53:50","date_gmt":"2024-09-13T04:53:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev?p=36213"},"modified":"2024-09-12T18:59:54","modified_gmt":"2024-09-12T23:59:54","slug":"roberts-pm-subverting-tender-process-for-refinery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/roberts-pm-subverting-tender-process-for-refinery\/","title":{"rendered":"Roberts: PM subverting tender process for refinery"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Trinidad and Tobago<\/p>\n<p>UNC Senator Anil Roberts has castigated the Prime Minister for meeting with businessman Indian businessman Naveen Jindal of Jindal Steel and Power Ltd while the bidding process for the now defunct Petrotrin refinery in Pointe-a-Pierre was ongoing.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking during the UNC\u2019s media briefing in Chaguanas on July 21, Roberts questioned the timing of the decision to sell the refinery.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs he (Dr Rowley) removed disposal of assets from under the watchful eyes of the procurement regulator, he decides he wants to sell your refinery. It belongs to you.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNow understand this. Let us pretend that Jindal was not on corruption charges (in India) first. A PM who is in charge of the final decision on who should get what and what process and what sale and what price must never meet with those who would like to purchase assets.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a red flag, an opportunity for corruption. Developed countries do not have that. We have competitive tender to keep decision makers far away from those who would like to make money from purchasing assets. Rowley stands in your face, takes a picture with a businessman who wants to purchase the refinery. That in itself is wrong, it\u2019s a breach of financial rules, of corporate governance. That is corrupt.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Roberts said the fact that this occurred while the tender process was going on made the situation worse.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere was a request for tenders and proposals actually going on and Rowley showing preference, talking about a preferred bidder, talking about this man and smiling and saying he\u2019s interested and then saying, \u2018what allyuh vex for, you don\u2019t want investment?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Roberts said the Constitution states the \u201c\u2019resources of the nation must be made available in equity throughout for all.\u2019 So let the competition begin.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Jindal paid a courtesy call on Rowley at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann\u2019s on June 17.<\/p>\n<p>A statement issued then by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) said Jindal\u2019s visit followed Rowley\u2019s trip to India in May, during which he met with several business leaders and invited them to explore investment opportunities in Trinidad and Tobago.<\/p>\n<p>The OPM said Jindal was interested in the potential of the Petrotrin refinery, and that formed part of the discussions at the meeting.<\/p>\n<p>Jindal Steel and Power is one of India\u2019s leading business houses, with a substantial presence in steel, mining, power and infrastructure<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/newsday.co.tt\/2024\/07\/22\/roberts-pm-subverting-tender-process-for-refinery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">more<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><em>Image: pexels-pixabay-208661<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trinidad and Tobago UNC Senator Anil Roberts has castigated the Prime Minister for meeting with businessman Indian businessman Naveen Jindal of Jindal Steel and Power Ltd while the bidding process&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1091,"featured_media":36214,"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":[250],"tags":[244,137],"class_list":["post-36213","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-articles","tag-electricity-energy","tag-trinidad-and-tobago"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-pixabay-208661-scaled-e1726185546473.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6u9Qa-9q5","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":35257,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/roget-on-refinery-bidding-process-a-scandal-in-the-making\/","url_meta":{"origin":36213,"position":0},"title":"Roget on refinery bidding process: &#8216;A scandal in the making&#8217;","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"July 18, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Guyana resident General of the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) Ancel Roget has accused Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley of \u2018bias\u2019 following his official meeting with an Indian businessman who expressed his interest in the Petrotrin refinery. Rowley met Naveen Jindal two weeks ago to discuss business prospects for the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Articles&quot;","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\/2020\/07\/Legislation-gavel-sign-Alpha-Stock-Images-The-Blue-Diamond-Gallery.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Legislation-gavel-sign-Alpha-Stock-Images-The-Blue-Diamond-Gallery.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Legislation-gavel-sign-Alpha-Stock-Images-The-Blue-Diamond-Gallery.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Legislation-gavel-sign-Alpha-Stock-Images-The-Blue-Diamond-Gallery.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":22651,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/young-imbert-dismiss-questions-on-quanten\/","url_meta":{"origin":36213,"position":1},"title":"Young, Imbert dismiss questions on Quanten","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"June 16, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley yesterday knocked UNC Senator Wade Mark\u2019s \u201coutrageous\u201d remarks regarding Quanten LLC. \u201cThe Minister of Finance\/Corporation Sole has responded in protection of the public interest. It is now for you (Express) to obtain from Wade Mark the facts surrounding his usual outrageous undermining\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Articles&quot;","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\/06\/pexels-johannes-havn-1716008-scaled-e1655473570435.jpg?fit=1024%2C853&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/pexels-johannes-havn-1716008-scaled-e1655473570435.jpg?fit=1024%2C853&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/pexels-johannes-havn-1716008-scaled-e1655473570435.jpg?fit=1024%2C853&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/pexels-johannes-havn-1716008-scaled-e1655473570435.jpg?fit=1024%2C853&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":22955,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/procurement-issues-with-refinery-sale\/","url_meta":{"origin":36213,"position":2},"title":"Procurement issues with refinery sale","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"July 7, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Trinidad and Tobago The Joint Council for the Construction Industry (JCC) is alarmed but not surprised by statements attibuted to the Finance Minister, as reported in the media on May 31, that \"the current procurement process being carried out by TPHL for the sale or lease of the refinery has\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Articles&quot;","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\/07\/pexels-tima-miroshnichenko-5662862-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C674&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/pexels-tima-miroshnichenko-5662862-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C674&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/pexels-tima-miroshnichenko-5662862-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C674&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/pexels-tima-miroshnichenko-5662862-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C674&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/pexels-tima-miroshnichenko-5662862-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C674&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":32707,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/kamla-asks-about-paria-contract-renewals\/","url_meta":{"origin":36213,"position":3},"title":"Kamla asks about Paria contract renewals","author":"Mayra Bonilla Lopez","date":"February 22, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Trinidad and Tobago OPPOSITION Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has asked whether any senior officials at Paria Fuel Trading Company Ltd had their employment contracts renewed before the Paria Commission of Enquiry (CoE) report was laid in the House of Representatives on January 19. She asked this at the end of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Articles&quot;","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\/2024\/02\/pexels-rdne-stock-project-7841410-scaled-e1708641541147.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/pexels-rdne-stock-project-7841410-scaled-e1708641541147.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/pexels-rdne-stock-project-7841410-scaled-e1708641541147.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/pexels-rdne-stock-project-7841410-scaled-e1708641541147.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8118,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/warmington-blasts-decision-to-let-petrojam-select-forensic-auditors\/","url_meta":{"origin":36213,"position":4},"title":"Warmington Blasts Decision To Let Petrojam Select Forensic Auditors","author":"Michele Marius","date":"February 28, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"A junior\u00a0minister in the Andrew Holness administration yesterday sided with the parliamentary Opposition, suggesting that the management of the scandal-scarred state-owned oil refinery Petrojam should never have been given the responsibility to craft the terms of reference for the forensic audit into the $5.2 billion oil losses uncovered at the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News\/Developments&quot;","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\/08\/Magnifying-glass-theilr-flickr.jpg?fit=1024%2C680&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Magnifying-glass-theilr-flickr.jpg?fit=1024%2C680&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Magnifying-glass-theilr-flickr.jpg?fit=1024%2C680&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Magnifying-glass-theilr-flickr.jpg?fit=1024%2C680&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":25986,"url":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/pm-procurement-for-new-port-scanners-underway\/","url_meta":{"origin":36213,"position":5},"title":"PM: Procurement for new port scanners underway","author":"Michele Marius","date":"January 19, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley says that this country is inspecting an above-average amount of containers at the Ports. 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Asked by Naparima MP Rodney Charles\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Articles&quot;","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\/2023\/01\/Shipping-containers-Sam-Greenhalgh-flickr.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Shipping-containers-Sam-Greenhalgh-flickr.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Shipping-containers-Sam-Greenhalgh-flickr.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Shipping-containers-Sam-Greenhalgh-flickr.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36213","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\/1091"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36213"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36213\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36223,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36213\/revisions\/36223"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36214"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36213"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36213"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/projectcalls.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36213"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}