Days after Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal promised to return the controversial Housing Development Corporation-leased Range Rover HSE the minister continued to use the vehicle up to yesterday. He used it yesterday morning to attend a site visit to view progress of residential land sites at Cacandee, Felicity, being developed by Estate Management and Business Development Co Ltd (EMBD) for former VSEP employees of Caroni 1975 Ltd. On Monday Moonilal said he was forced to return the Range Rover because the T&T Guardian published the picture of the vehicle on its front page, which, he said, posed a security risk for him and his family.
However, he used the vehicle to attend the site visit. When contacted for comment on his retention of the Range Rover, Moonilal said: “Wait, that is a story?” He admitted the Range Rover he arrived in was the same HDC-leased one. Asked if he was not returning it, Moonilal said: “We are prepared to give it back because of the security issues. We are prepared. We are just waiting for the new model to come in the meanwhile.” Moonilal said he would return the vehicle “in a few days. We have to clean it out and empty it out.” Yesterday there was an increase in security detail accompanying Moonilal to the event. He was driven to and from the tour by his Special Branch security detail. Moonilal said: “I need additional (security) now because of the public exposure caused by the Guardian. We have additional security from other agencies because now I am in the second most conspicuous vehicle in the country after PM 1.”
While he arrived in the Range Rover, he did not go on the tour with the vehicle. He instead opted to ride in a Prado for the tour. Moonilal said at present he was looking for another model of vehicle “because the security was comprised.” He said he did not use the Range Rover on the tour because of the “heavy terrain in Felicity.” He said he was hoping to get a new vehicle next month.
“I am hoping the Guardian will not take another picture, then we may have to get a generic number plate. “We have also decided not to purchase any other Rover from the affiliate company of the Guardian, when the Guardian mechanic said the Rover is not good for heavy terrain,” he said. Moonilal declined to say what make and model of vehicle was being considered. “We are now consulting the Guardian car-leasing department to recommend a good vehicle,” he said.
The minister also dismissed calls for him to apologise for saying as Minister of Housing he is “the landlord of criminal elements.” He said he had nothing to apologise for in the statement.
He added: “I did not say all the people in HDC are criminals. There are some criminal elements. It is evident that they are not all criminal elements. “That call (for him to apologise) is foolish. I am stating a fact that there are HDC sites where there are criminal elements and we have to deal with them. It is not the majority. I have nothing to apologise for.” The minister also dismissed claims by Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley that he was “victimising” the People’s National Movement (PNM) Chaguanas West candidate Avinash Singh. Yesterday Moonilal toured the Felicity area where Singh has land. Singh has been accused on squatting on those lands. Moonilal, in response to Rowley’s statement, which was reportedly made on a local radio station, said:
“I took note that Rowley said we are victimising his candidate who is squatting on state lands. I will ask Dr Rowley if he know where Cacandee Road is and if he can spell the first name or the last name of his candidate.”