Former executive chairman of the Urban Development Corporation of T&T (Udecott) Calder Hart yesterday flew out of T&T again, sources said. Hart, who had returned to Trinidad on April 10, spent four nights in Trinidad before flying out on flight AA 1668. According to a statement from his attorneys, Devesh Maharaj & Associates, a search warrant was executed at his home in Cascade by the Anti-Corruption Investigation Bureau (ACIB). The statement added: "He has since returned to his wife and child in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
"Prior to his departure, Mr Hart confirmed to the ACIB and to the Honourable Attorney General his willingness to return to T&T at short notice should his presence be required by the authorities." On Tuesday, Hart was interviewed by members of the ACIB, acting Commissioner of Police James Philbert confirmed yesterday. Philbert said: "He was visited yesterday (Tuesday) by officers. I believe a search was carried out at his home, and they did an interview with him yesterday (Tuesday)." He could not say how long the police questioned Hart. Philbert was speaking to reporters after the T&T Chamber of Industry and Commerce's (TTCIC) annual meeting and luncheon at the Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain.
On April 11, the Sunday Guardian exclusively reported Hart had returned to T&T on flight AA 1819. Former vice-chairman of the Udecott, Krishna Bahadoorsingh, sat next to him on the flight, it was reported. Hart officially resigned as executive chairman of Udecott on March 6 and left T&T the same day. He also had resigned immediately from four state boards, the National Insurance Board, T&T Mortgage Finance Company, the National Insurance Property Development Ltd and the Home Mortgage Bank. After he left T&T, members of the Opposition and sections of the business community were concerned he would not return. Prime Minister Patrick Manning has repeatedly and publicly praised Hart for achieving several of Government's key infrastructural projects, including the Waterfront Project and the National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA).
Hart, who had occupied a front row seat at the December 19, 2009, convention of the ruling People's National Movement (PNM) at Chaguaramas, and in whom Manning has entrusted great confidence, made no public appearances when he returned to Trinidad. He also was not present at the PNM's launch of its 2010 political campaign in St Augustine last Monday night.