In light of an audit report which implicates the former People’s National Movement (PNM) administration in corruption over a scholarship fund, Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal says there are more scandalous revelations to come. Speaking at a health fair at the Mohess Road Hindu School, Debe, yesterday, he said damaging reports against the PNM’s involvement in corruption in the HDC, Petrotrin and Udecott during their tenure will soon be revealed to the public.
“There is much more to come. We have not heard the last of the gas to liquid scandal in the energy sector, I think we haven’t heard the last of several of the mega construction projects. A few days ago, the HDC was in the Parliament for a Joint Select Committee and they touched on an issue. “We have to reveal some more information on the squander of public funds in the home construction sector...” Moonilal said.
In the Parliament on Friday, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan revealed the findings of the PricewaterhouseCooper forensic audit of the Community Development Scholarship Fund, developed in March 2002 under the PNM. He describing it as a “slush fund” which was shared among people affiliated with the PNM.
Weighing in on the report, Moonilal called on Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley to apologies to the country as he was a part of the Cabinet at the time. He said it also raises questions about Rowley’s ability as a national leader. “Dr Rowley, who is now seeking to make over himself, has to apologise to Trinidad and Tobago for this scholarship fiasco of which he was a part. He has to apologise for the Brian Lara Stadium, of which he was a part, and he has to apologise for the rapid rail of which he was a part.”
‘$275m more for Brian Lara Stadium’
Saying the issue of the Brian Lara Stadium was disheartening, Moonilal announced that a further $275 million is needed to complete the project. “The Brian Lara Stadium started off at $275 million, it is now $1.2 billion and it requires another $275 million for completion and Mr Rowley has been a part of that. It is a tragedy of immense proportion, also for Mr Lara himself.
“We always recognise the abuse of his name by associating it with such a scandal, and Dr Rowley was a part of that, so I don’t see how he can come now at this time of the day and say he takes no blame, no responsibility for the mega corruption of the PNM, including the scholarship matter.”