$M corruption probe…

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING?

The Government is giving multi-million-dollar contracts to companies it previously strongly criticised and was keen to prosecute.

And the ruling administration has not passed a single anti-corruption law, despite campaign and parliamentary promises.

The much-threatened criminal corruption charges have also not materialised, in spite of costly ongoing enquiries.

In addition, there are lingering questions about whether the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) accepted gifts in the rebuilding of its Balisier House headquarters from contractors who were earlier condemned.

Some of the contractors had their earned payments withheld while enquiries were taking place.

An examination has found that virtually all contractors who were denounced by Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley have since landed taxpayer-funded projects for infrastructural or housing projects.

In some cases, contractors were shortlisted and hired while investigations were reportedly still taking place.

Rowley had accused the contractors of being involved in bribery, kickbacks and bid rigging.

Civil matters are currently before the court, but no criminal attacks have been filed.

It is estimated that over the past five years, the formerly condemned contractors have been given deals by the Rowley Administration worth about $2 billion.

Some of the contract firm bosses have been posing with senior Government officials at public functions.

There are reports that some of the companies have close professional and personal ties with Rohan Sinanan’s Works and Transport Ministry.

There was also speculation that certain identified firms provided material and labour for the remodelled Balisier House, a project that is estimated to have cost $100 million.

PNM officials have said that money for reconstruction was raised by raffles, cake sales and other retail projects.

Rowley has repeatedly promised a crackdown on wrongdoing with the public’s purse.

He told a conference in 2016 that the Government “is committed to the fight against the scourge of corruption and to those who have engaged in acts of corruption.”

He spoke of introducing anti-corruption legislation.

But the Procurement Act, which was belatedly passed in Parliament, was severely diluted and amendments were brought after its initial passage to further weaken the law.

Whistleblowers’ law is still in Parliament.

Rowley said the Government would introduce a rewards system to encourage whistleblowers.

But although the law was promised in 2015, it does not appear to be on the Government’s legislative priorities.

But Rowley has said that his Government is prepared “to participate in legitimate global initiatives that are focused on simplifying the gathering and collating of evidence and the building of successful cases leading to the prosecution of those who engage in corrupt acts.”

The British firm Edmonds MarshallMcMahon has been retained for several years to probe alleged white-collar crime by the previous administration.

Opposition figures claim that the firm, headed by Kate McMahon, has been paid more than TT $40 million.

The widespread enquiries have not led to any arrests.

So after eight years of tough-talking by Rowley and some of his officials, the only developments are the ongoing investigation, the civil charges, and that contractors are picking up deals with the current administration.

Heading into a general election, the Prime Minister may continue his sabre rattling and his threats to haul the corrupt to justice.

The only winners so far appear to be well-paid attorneys and the British probe firm.

Rowley’s serial denunciation may well be much ado about nothing.