PRIME Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, who is playing down reports of a $431 million cost overrun on a public project, took a sharply opposing stand to a similar issue years ago.
In 2009, citing huge additional spending on several construction ventures, Rowley said they amounted to breaches of the Integrity in Public Life Act and anti-corruption laws.
He termed the increased cost of $300 million on one project as a “scandal” that demanded that “action be taken immediately.”
Speaking shortly after he was dismissed as a government minister, Rowley bitterly criticised Calder Hart, who led Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDECOTT), the executing agency on the construction ventures.
He accused then-Prime Minister Patrick Manning of giving Hart free rein on several pricey projects on which there were massive additional charges.
He demanded Hart’s dismissal.
But as Prime Minister, Rowley is sidestepping the insistent claims of Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar that the construction cost on ANR Robinson International Airport terminal has climbed by $431 million, to $1.7 billion.
Referencing two official documents, Ms. Persad-Bissessar said some sub-contractors on the project are financiers of Rowley’s PNM.
The Prime Minister responded that the allegations were “a most wicked and malicious attempt to tarnish a project that brings light to Tobago and the nation as a whole.”
He admitted that there were modifications to the terminal’s designs, but did not respond directly to the claims of cost overruns.
He said the Government could justify “every cent” spent on the project.
But he did not deny that terminal works are costing taxpayers $431 million more than budgeted and approved.
Rowley, who is also under fire for accepting salary increases for high public officials, has not faced the media on the airport issue.
Instead, he sent Finance Minister Colm Imbert, who said there was an increased cost of only two per cent, or US $2.5 million (about TT $18 million).
Imbert focused on the progress of construction works, saying the terminal is 91 per cent completed.
He insisted that the cost of the new terminal “is worth the investment.”
The Express newspaper editorialised that the minister “relied upon obfuscation, arrogance, wordplay and deflection.”
The new airport facilities would be put to use in mid-2025, Imbert said.
Herbert George, Chairman of National Infrastructure Development Company, which is responsible for the venture, has stayed mum.
This is in contrast to George’s previous liberal statements on the progress of the project.
Since becoming Prime Minister, Rowley has rejected all claims of cost overruns on various public projects.
He denied there was an increased construction bill of $38 million for improvement works to the Prime Minister’s official residence in Tobago.
The Government has also refuted reports that reconstruction of the Central Block of Port of Spain General Hospital is costing $110 million more than budgeted.
There were also claims of cost overruns at the Curepe Interchange construction project.
The current Tobago airport issue is revealing a two-tongue Rowley on the critical issue of multi-million-dollar higher charges than previously approved.
