New Broadgate mess....thanks Manning
Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 5:36 am
http://guardian.co.tt/news/general/2010 ... dgate-mess" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The People’s Partnership is now saddled with a $109 million debt to be paid by taxpayers—accrued interest on the billion-dollar Broadgate Place. The vision was expected to form part of the metropolis former prime minister Patrick Manning had envisioned for the capital city. According to a well-placed source, whether the Government opts to scrap or continue the controversial project, they are legally bound to cover the debt at the expense of taxpayers. The debt, a Sunday Guardian investigation unearthed, forms part of a government-guarantee US$20 million loan granted by the First Caribbean International Banking (FCIB) and Financial Corporation. Investigations revealed that the Government failed to make timely payments resulting in the high interest rate.
PNM betrayed us
But yesterday the official, who asked not to be named, pointed fingers at former prime minister Patrick Manning and then public administration minister Lenny Saith, saying, “Don’t blame us, blame them” for the scandal now brewing. Distancing itself from cash-strapped conglomerate Clico and the Hindu Credit Union, the official clearly stated that members had nothing to be worried about. Also firing at corruption allegations made by Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, the official explained that the Government was duty-bound to repay the loan. “We have our documents and it states clearly the Government is indebted to pay the loan. Since a new government came into office we have sent out letters requesting meetings and no response has been forthcoming. “We never had any plans to get into that sort of business. It was the former prime minister who approached us. He had plans to beautify the capital and we agreed. We have all our legal documentation. “They insisted that we built the 26-storey tower and they will be renting it out for office space. We never had any interest in such a project; why would a small co-operative like us want to get into that type of business?” the official asked. “For three years the Government continued to drag their feet for what reason we do not know,” the official said.
The People’s Partnership is now saddled with a $109 million debt to be paid by taxpayers—accrued interest on the billion-dollar Broadgate Place. The vision was expected to form part of the metropolis former prime minister Patrick Manning had envisioned for the capital city. According to a well-placed source, whether the Government opts to scrap or continue the controversial project, they are legally bound to cover the debt at the expense of taxpayers. The debt, a Sunday Guardian investigation unearthed, forms part of a government-guarantee US$20 million loan granted by the First Caribbean International Banking (FCIB) and Financial Corporation. Investigations revealed that the Government failed to make timely payments resulting in the high interest rate.
PNM betrayed us
But yesterday the official, who asked not to be named, pointed fingers at former prime minister Patrick Manning and then public administration minister Lenny Saith, saying, “Don’t blame us, blame them” for the scandal now brewing. Distancing itself from cash-strapped conglomerate Clico and the Hindu Credit Union, the official clearly stated that members had nothing to be worried about. Also firing at corruption allegations made by Attorney General Anand Ramlogan, the official explained that the Government was duty-bound to repay the loan. “We have our documents and it states clearly the Government is indebted to pay the loan. Since a new government came into office we have sent out letters requesting meetings and no response has been forthcoming. “We never had any plans to get into that sort of business. It was the former prime minister who approached us. He had plans to beautify the capital and we agreed. We have all our legal documentation. “They insisted that we built the 26-storey tower and they will be renting it out for office space. We never had any interest in such a project; why would a small co-operative like us want to get into that type of business?” the official asked. “For three years the Government continued to drag their feet for what reason we do not know,” the official said.