PNM Colm Imbert has sought to haul Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner before Parliament's Privileges Committee for alleged "premeditated, false and misleading" statements made last week about a Works Ministry's transport study. House Speaker Wade Mark, who figured in Imbert's move to do so, said he would rule on the latter at a subsequent sitting. Imbert's move came in response to statements by Warner in last week's House sitting that the Works Ministry had paid a firm, called Parsons and Brinkerhoff, $21 million for a transport study which was not done. Imbert quoted Warner's verbatim Parliament statements on the matter. Imbert said: "The statements made by the member are false and misleading in several material respects.
"The official parliamentary records will show that on May 8, 2007 a question was answered in the Senate on this very issue."
He pointed out that the Senate question had been posed to him as former works minister by House Speaker Wade Mark in Mark's previous capacity as an Opposition UNC Senator. Imbert quoted the reply which he had given Mark in the Senate: It stated: "...The National Transportation Study, also known as the Comprehensive National Transportation Study's, or CNTS, final report, was submitted by the consultants, Parsons Brinkerhoff Quade and Douglas, also known as PB, in November 2006. "Upon receipt, the technical officers of the project implementation unit for the Comprehensive National Transportation Study undertook a detailed evaluation of the report. "In December 2006, the project implementation unit for the CNTS advised that the report contained a number of deficiencies, based on the terms of reference and agreed scope of works." Imbert noted the then Senator Mark had posed a supplemental question and that he, as former minister, had also told the Senate: "The contract sum for the comprehensive National Transportation Study is approximately $21 million from which approximately $10 million has been paid to date" and that "$21 million has not been paid to the consultants.
"I made it very clear that $10 million has been paid under the Comprehensive National Transportation Study." Imbert also told the House yesterday: "I can also state categorically that up to May 24, 2010, I was advised by the staff of the Ministry of Works and Transport, and I verily believe this to be the case, that Parsons Brinkerhoff was not paid any additional money for the comprehensive National Transportation Study that was submitted in 2006, beyond the $10 million reported to the Senate on May 8, 2007. "In summary, the past PNM Government paid only $10 million, and not $21 million, for a transport study that was submitted in 2006, contrary to the statements made by the Member for Chaguanas West." Imbert said Warner's statements were not made spontaneously, or in the cut and thrust of debate, but rather were premeditated. He said Warner had at least one week to prepare for his contribution to last week's debate. Imbert added: "I am satisfied, therefore, that the member wilfully misled the House."