Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard, SC, yesterday confirmed that his office was reviewing a file from the Integrity Commission about a complaint against former Urban Development Corporation (Udecott) chairman Calder Hart. In a brief telephone interview yesterday, Gaspard confirmed his office had received the file and said it was being reviewed. However, Gaspard did not discuss the contents of the file and did not say how long the review would take. A newspaper report yesterday said the commission had referred the complaint to Gaspard on July 19.
The complaint stems from Udecott’s award of a $367 million contract for the construction of the Legal Affairs Ministry Tower in Port-of-Spain to CH Development, a company said to be run by two relatives of Hart’s wife Sherrine. The complaint falls under Section 29 of the Integrity in Public Life Act, which deals with people in public life who have to make decisions involving a conflict of interest. The legislation requires the public figure to disclose the conflict of interest and recuse himself/herself from the decision-making process.
Hart resigned from Udecott on March 6, 2010, and now lives in south Florida. He is also subject to a $65 million lawsuit in relation to the incomplete Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba. The lawsuit, filed by Attorney General Anand Ramlogan in May last year, is currently before Justice Andre Des Vignes in the Port-of-Spain High Court.