A CHINESE company with a dark history of bribery and other financial scandals is being given a $475.83 million public deal in Trinidad and Tobago.
The scandal-ridden China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) is being contracted to design and build Housing Development Corporation (HDC) houses in Santa Rosa, Arima.
CHEC is to undertake the job even though three Trinidad and Tobago-owned companies submitted lower bids.
The Asian company was blacklisted by the World Bank for eight years, ending 2017, for fraudulent bidding.
The formerly banned firm has been exposed in several countries, including Singapore, Bangladesh, Tanzania, Uganda, Sri Lanka and Bolivia, for offering bribes to government officials.
A top official was fired after a financial scandal at the Bolivian Highway Authority was exposed.
The company faced criticism for the lack of maintenance and slow pace of its work on a Jamaican highway project.
In Panama, a commission discovered irregularities in awarding a contract to CHEC for a cruise port project.
CHEC’s dubious international history includes questionable activities in Australia, where “a series of suspicious payments” were made, according to an official report.
In addition, the contractor has been accused of using low-quality material and carrying out sub-standard work.
The company, which is actively backed by the Chinese Communist Government, “will not bother to do things in the best possible way” if the host country is not of strategic value to China, a report stated.
CHEC signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government in 2017 for construction of the $4 billion La Brea dry dock facility.
Without explanation, the contract was granted to China Ghezhouba Group.
CHEC has been listed by Transparency International as one of the companies “exporting corruption.”
Local contractors, Junior Sammy, Mootilal Ramhit, and NH International, reportedly submitted lower bids than CHEC for the Arima project.
The company’s involvement in T&T is part of the rapid and extensive expansion by Chinese interests in the Caribbean and Latin America.
Chinese firms are working on a large number of projects, including at least 40 ports by China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO) in this part of the world.
This is considered a strategic move to develop the country’s commercial and military interests and counter the influence of the United States.
A year ago, the US identified a Chinese spy base in Cuba.
There are concerns among independent experts that some vulnerable nations would be unable to pay for public projects, as happened in Sri Lanka, Zambia, Djibouti, Laos, and other countries.
Some countries that were unable to service their debts have forfeited prized assets to the Chinese authorities.
In 2018, Rowley became the first Caricom leader to sign China’s disputed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The United States and certain other countries claim the BRI is associated with corrupt practices and with leading weak countries to build up huge debts.
The Phoenix Park Industrial Estate was constructed under the BRI terms, and will house at least 10 Chinese companies.
Several regional countries have since followed Rowley in signing onto the BRI.
