Purdey, Rohan to appear before JSC
Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan and the Vice President of Bridgemans Services PLC Andrew Purdey have both confirmed that they have been invited to appear before Parliament’s Joint Select Committee on Land and Physical Infrastructure which is looking into the procurement of the Cabo Star and the Ocean Flower 2.
Sinanan told the T&T Guardian yesterday that he had been invited to appear before the Committee, and will appear as requested.
The T&T Guardian understands that there were extensive discussions on the situation with the ferries at last weekend’s general council meeting of the PNM when the party’s political leader Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley again spoke to concerns about the procurement of the MV Superfast Galicia.
Asked about the discussion Sinanan said, “I will not speak about what transpired at the General Council.”
Purdey who is currently out of the country told the T&T Guardian he is “looking forward” to appearing before the Committee and will be back to make himself available.
He has already met with independent investigator businessman Christian Mouttet who was appointed by the Prime Minister to look into the procurement of the vessels. Asked whether he had held further discussions with the Port Authority on the Ocean Flower 2 which is now docked in Curacao, he said, “there have been no discussions with the Port.”
Purdey said there had been a “five per cent accuracy rate in the reporting of the local media on the acquisition of the vessels.”
Last Friday the Port issued a statement which it subsequently recalled stating that Bridgemans “initial submission to the authority was made via the Ministry of Works and Transport.” A direct submission was subsequently made to the Port dated April 28.
The Port said it received four submissions from Bridgemans Services Group and two from Ken Shipping and Marine “outside of the official tender process.”
Maritime attorney Nyree Alfonso confirmed last week to the T&T Guardian that she had also been asked to appear before the Committee. She has also been asked to make written submissions by Wednesday of this week.
Former Works and Transport Minister Stephen Cadiz under whose watch the Superfast Galicia was procured told the T&T Guardian he had also been asked to make a submission in writing and to appear before the Commission.
The Committee has also requested that former chairman of the Board of the Port Authority Christine Sahadeo and other Commissioners appear.
Former board member Ferdie Ferreira confirmed that he had received a request to appear and will be doing so. But efforts to contact Sahadeo proved futile,
Part of the remit of the committee is to look at the maintenance contract and Ferreira said he will speak to his own concerns about the contract which this country had with Bay Ferries at a cost of $7 million a month.
President of the Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union Michael Annisette, and former Works and Transport Minister Fitzgerald Hinds have also been requested to appear.
The Committee chaired by the Member of Parliament for Mayaro Rushton Paray will meet in the Parliament Chamber on September 4 and September 5. The hearings move to Tobago on September 6, when the Committee is expected to meet with the Division of Tourism of the Tobago House of Assembly, the T&T Inter Island Transportation Company, the Tobago Truckers Association, the Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association and the Tobago Division of the T&T Chamber.
JSCs have no power of subpoena and can only request people to attend sessions. There are no legal consequences for failure to attend if requested.
TRANSPARENCY BODY CONCERNED ABOUT FERRY DEAL
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Image: Penn State (flickr)