In the 22nd May 2023 edition of this newspaper, in an article entitled “Moonilal: Only 45 per cent of CCTV cameras working”, we published certain remarks made by Dr Roodal Moonilal at a media conference on May 21, 2023 concerning the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (Udecott).
The remarks of Dr Moonilal which focused on Udecott’s operations, staff and the potential award of a contract for the construction of a youth facility in North Trinidad were published without commenting as to whether they were true.
They do not represent the views of this newspaper or the reporter.
In response, Udecott has stated that the allegations made by Dr Moonilal at the media conference on May 21, 2023 concerning Udecott are false and inaccurate as:
1. Udecott has in force a written i) Procurement Policy and Procedure; ii) Employee Handbook; and iii) Business Code of Ethics which all address situations of conflicts of interest; make provision for employees to sign declarations of impartiality and prohibit involvement in any undertaking which may compromise the employee’s job performance or office;
2. Contractors are also required to sign declarations that there is no conflict of interest;
3. Persons involved in evaluating tenders must sign a Declaration of Impartiality and Confidentiality;
4. There is no person working in Udecott who is a contractor competing with contractors he is assessing or who is assessing bids from people who compete with him, whether for the construction of a youth facility in North Trinidad or otherwise.