T&T Opposition Leader to be subject of housing probe

(Trinidad Express) Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley will be a key subject in a commission of enquiry ordered by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday to investigate the Las Alturas housing project in Morvant.

The two-tower project cost $26 million but had to be demolished due to structural problems. Persad-Bissessar announced former high-level members of the People’s National Movement (PNM), including Rowley, will be probed to determine who was responsible for the scandal. She said the commission will deter­mine whether there are any grounds for criminal and civil proceedings against any person or entity; whether criminal proceedings should therefore be recommended to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for his consideration; and whether civil proceedings should be recommended to the Attorney General for his consideration. The Prime Minister said the Las Alturas buildings H and I were designed by the PNM, the contractor was hired by the PNM, constructed by the PNM and the buildings collapsed under the PNM. She said the project, which should have provided homes for 48 families, has cost this country over $26 million, plus another $2 million to demolish the buildings. Persad-Bissessar noted both Rowley, who was a former housing minister under the PNM, as well as Emily Gaynor Dick-Forde, who succeeded him, have distanced themselves from the project, singing like Shaggy, “It wasn’t me”. She also pointed out PNM Senator Faris Al-Rawi was on the board of the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) when this project was born. “The people of this country have a right to know who is accountable for this construction disaster that may soon become the new flag-bearer for the Member for Diego Martin West’s tenure as Minister of Housing,” said Persad-Bissessar. The Prime Minister said she was disgusted when Hou­­sing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal spoke on the matter in Parliament and she requested the file on Las Alturas be brought to her. She provided the timeline of the start of the project to its demise (see box at right). “So where did that money go? We have to answer that question. Should the public today do like the PNM did and sweep this matter under the carpet? Should these high- profile PNM members not be able to explain what happened under their watch?” asked Persad-Bissessar.