00:00Citrus Close is where the previous PNM government decided to build a public housing complex.
00:06Minister in the Ministry of Housing, Philip Alexander, describes it as a hot zone.
00:11We are actually on a piece of property that is contested between two violent gangs.
00:19The Beatum Gang, the La Banteil Gang.
00:22And this is a hot zone where this development is.
00:29It's to the law enforcement, this is a hot zone.
00:35The project consisting of 10 buildings was awarded for approximately $191 million at a rental value of about $800 per
00:44month.
00:45Alexander said it will take the state more than 100 years to recruit their investment.
00:50And if bank interest was included, this would double to 200 years.
00:54The PNM, Camille Robinson Regis, Minister of Housing, entered into an agreement to build houses that cannot sell.
01:10They could only rent.
01:13So it would take 200 years to get that money back.
01:16Who did Camille Robinson Regis build these houses for?
01:21And there are even bigger questions surrounding the procurement process.
01:26He produced evaluation documents for three contractors.
01:30Rainbow Construction, Woodgreen Construction and NH International.
01:34Rainbow Construction's bid was the lowest bid to build these buildings.
01:44And were awarded the contractor, who awarded the contract.
01:48And at some point, the PDAC committee, the Procurement and Disposal Advisory Committee,
01:56took it upon themselves to vary the award of the contract
02:02and took the contract away from Rainbow and gave it to Woodgreen.
02:09The HDC document alleges possible breaches of the 2015 procurement legislation
02:14and raises concerns about waste, overspending and the management of public funds.
02:21Woodgreen Construction Services Limited provided a costing of $191,275,000 VAT inclusive.
02:29And Rainbow Construction provided a costing of $137,244,000 VAT.
02:36Being a difference of $54 million, there is no clear reason provided in the Evaluation Committee report
02:45for the waste, overspending, abuse and gross mismanagement involving public funds.
02:51Alexander maintains that the rental model means that taxpayers could wait generations to recover the money invested.
02:58He says approximately $51 million had already been paid when about 10% of the project was completed,
03:05representing a substantial portion of the contract value.
03:09More damning, Alexander says, is a relationship between Woodgreen Construction Services Limited and the previous government.
03:16What Trinidad and Tobago has to ask is, what did this contract with favorable terms
03:26to a company that had no experience and did not win the bid,
03:33did they get this contract because they were building Balizeh House?
03:40Because it is the same company.
03:43Shala Kistu, TV6 News.
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