Tuesday February 9th, 2010
- Last update:8 hours 48 min ago
Udecott confirms bias claim
Published: 22 Sep 2009
State-owned special purpose company, Urban Development Corporation of T&T (Udecott), has confirmed taking legal action against the Commission of Enquiry into the Construction Sector, claiming that some unnamed commissioners have exhibited “bias” against it. The confirmation came yesterday in a release issued by Udecott's spokesman, Roxanne Stapleton-Whyms. She said last Friday Udecott filed for a judicial review of the commission of enquiry.
Stapleton-Whyms said the action was “seeking a declaration that the proceedings of the commission have been biased against Udecott.” Udecott said that because of this alleged bias, it had been deprived of “a fair and impartial hearing.” The commission of enquiry, chaired by British jurist, Prof John Uff, was appointed by President George Maxwell Richards last year, and began public hearings in January. It has held three rounds of hearings. A fourth round, which was scheduled to begin on September 7, was suspended by Uff, because a legal requirement to publish the appointment of the commission in the T&T Gazette, was not met.
It has since been gazetted, and Parliament is to debate shortly a bill to validate the work of the commission. Udecott has constantly claimed bias against it, resulting in a decision by one commissioner (Israel Khan) to resign last month. A second commissioner, Kenneth Sirju, also decided to recuse himself from the inquiry in all matters relating to the Cleaver Heights Housing Development Project in Arima, because his company, KS&P, had done work for contractor NH International (Caribbean) Ltd on that project.
Stapleton-Whyms said the latest legal action "in no way represents any attempt by Udecott to challenge or undermine the Government’s decision to initiate the commission, or the actions taken by the State to validate the hearings thus far. "However, like any other company or citizen, Udecott is entitled to equal treatment and fair play." Udecott added that it was entitled to take whatever initiatives available to it to uphold its legal and constitutional rights.
...,Calder Hart and his gang
...,Calder Hart and his gang operate above the law....they are being allowed to suck this place dry....
'UDECOTT is entitled to
'UDECOTT is entitled to equal treatment and fairplay....' So aren't the people of Trinidad and Tobago, the common man, woman and child, entitled to some 'fairplay' too? Does UDECOTT have something nefarious to hide? If not, then why does it not allow the Uff Enquiry to proceed unhindered? 'Methinks doth protest too much' or something like that, Attorneys for UDECOTT.
By the way, is tail wagging dog here? Can't Cabinet override the UDECOTT Board, if they are inclined to, that is?
ajfyzabadbutlertown
Trinidad and Tobago is a
Trinidad and Tobago is a fair and equal place.
Its just that some folks get a fairer and equal-er share of our blood, sweat and tears.
http://dsaltsman.blogspot.com/
OF INTEREST
OF INTEREST -
This foreigner is using taxpayer’s money to protect him from accountability to said taxpayers about their own money. Only the most expensive lawyers would do of course. This is a case of our own money cutting our tail. He is ably supported by our Political, Religious, Labor and Business Leaders. Massa day ent done it is alive and well. It is now perpetrated with the assistance of our best and brightest, is our education system working. Is this what we spend billions educating sons and daughters of the soil to do? Sell out to Massa.
All of dat going on while
All of dat going on while man fight for a lil 10 days contract with Cepep or URP.
Dis place sweet too bad.
UDECOTT is fighting hard
UDECOTT is fighting hard with taxpayers money to prevent accountability.There is support from someone high in the Government because the Government can easily remove the Board.But maybe many heads would fall if the truth is known.In the minds of many people this is the biggest scam in the history of this country.Our institutions are so weak ,that is ,The COPand the DPP that conmen and carpetbaggers may walk with millions of taxpayers dollars .This ripoff may make O'Halloran look like a schoolboy.Is the PNM above the law Mr COP and DPP?I wonder what would be the response of bodies like the IRO,Chambers Of Commerce,Trade Unions etc if this Commission is disbanded