UNC Senator Wade Mark yesterday doubled down on his claim about the cost of the Prime Minister’s Tobago residence, saying Urban Development Corporation of T&T (UdeCOTT) chairman Noel Garcia allegedly gave “misleading” information on the cost.
Mark did so at a media briefing yesterday, claiming disparity on information given in 2020 that the original cost was $17.5 million, while Garcia’s recently reported figure was $22.2m.
Mark spoke after Garcia recently trashed the UNC’s claims of a “$63 million” cost for work on the residence.
Garcia was quoted as saying $ 22.2m was spent for construction work, not “refurbishment,” as UNC claimed, and that included UdeCOTT’s fees. The contract was awarded to Parks International Ltd in the sum of $20.3m. Garcia also said additional security measures were identified as requirements for the residence and this resulted in a variation to the contract of $8.2m, and as a result, the construction cost was revised to $36.5m.
Mark, who claimed he “didn’t know” if Garcia had a “senior moment,” claimed Garcia gave “conflicting and misleading” information.
“The objective is to engage in a massive cover-up,” Mark said.
Mark said on May 19, 2020, he’d asked a question in Parliament on the “increased cost” for building repair. He added that then-Senate Leader Franklin Khan said the residence wasn’t repaired. He said Khan said the old building wasn’t maintained, especially over 2010-2015, and was in such a state of disrepair it had to be demolished and rebuilt. And, therefore, the question of increased costs didn’t arise, Khan had said.
Mark said he’d detailed elements of the scope of works and had asked Khan what the original estimated cost was. He said Khan said it wasn’t renovation but construction of the entire building with “all relating infrastructure” and actual cost was $17.5m.
Mark said that answer in 2020 would have had to have Cabinet approval and UdeCOTT and Garcia would have had to have seen the answer.
Mark demanded how Garcia could now say the approved cost was $22m.
“He’s playing smart with foolishness,” he said.
Mark repeated his calls for an independent forensic enquiry to determine how the cost “could jump from $17.5m” to what Garcia said.