A war of words is being waged between Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan and Opposition Senator Wade Mark, with each accusing the other pf using their position improperly for personal gain.
At a media conference at his Port-of-Spain office yesterday, Sinanan responded to claims made by Mark the previous day about the ownership of 2.743 hectares of land in Sangre Grande, part of which was acquired by the State for construction of the Cunapo Bridge in 2018.
Sinanan said this issue had been raised by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar in 2019 and he had already responded.
He did not deny owning the land but said it was purchased in 2009, years before he got his ministerial appointment. He said he was not involved in the project and had declared his conflict of interest to the Integrity Commission.
The Ministry’s director of Bridges, Landslips and Traffic Management Division, Mahadeo Jagdeo said diversion of the river to construct the new bridge was presented to the Ministry as an option by an external firm in 2016.
“The first option was to construct the bridge in its existing location and the second option was to move the bridge approximately 100 metres from its existing location, the reason being is there is a heavy meander of the Cunapo River and one of the contributing factors to flooding in the Sangre Grande area was this meander. By moving the bridge and straightening the river, we would have helped reduce that flooding,” Jagdeo explained.
Jagdeo also presented a timeline for construction, which dates back to 2010. Sinanan said the process predates his time in office.
He said since the State began occupying his land for construction of the bridge, he agreed to be compensated $1, which he was never paid.
Jagdeo later clarified that the $1 was only so the State could occupy the lands and negotiations for the land acquisition were only just beginning.
Sinanan said he had questions for Mark: “When he was Senator, sorry Speaker, was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of any HDC houses that rent was paid for? Two, when he was the Speaker was he the beneficiary, directly or indirectly, of any CEPEP contracts? Not one, not two, not three, not four but five?”
Mark: Let Sinanan bring proof
Contacted for comment, Mark scoffed at the questions, saying: “What I can say is misery loves company.”
Pressed on whether there was any truth to Sinanan’s questions, Mark said he was daring the Minister to make any evidence he has public.
“I will now send you a copy of the evidence of Mr Sinanan using his office as a minister to divert a river from where it was to his land that he acquired in 2009. So when he can provide you with evidence of what he’s saying, I will respond to him. I am not playing games with him. I am delivering facts,” he said.
Mark said it will be impossible for Sinanan to provide documentary evidence, as there is no truth to the allegations.
Similar claims made during a motion of no-confidence in him as Speaker on February 27, 2015, by then Chaguanas West MP, Jack Warner.
Yesterday Mark was adamant that no evidence of wrongdoing on his part could be produced as none exists.
“I am telling you that he has no evidence of what he’s saying . . I’m going to tell you that I am not a recipient of anything,” he said.