00:00And they don't want me to talk about it, that this plant started under their watch at $3.6 million.
00:06At the end of 2023, Mr. Speaker, you know where that plant went to? $34 million.
00:15Housing Minister David Lee speaking in the House of Representatives
00:18about a project in the constituency represented by Aruka Lopino MP Marvin Gonzalez
00:24during the former PNM administration.
00:26Mr. Speaker, I raised some objections during his contribution
00:31when he was making reference to a Bonaire wastewater plant.
00:36And I want to tell the minister and the government,
00:40if there is any fraud, if there is any corruption with respect to the construction of any wastewater in Bonaire
00:47or in any place in Trinidad and Tobago, let the chips fall where they may and take action where it is possible.
00:56Minister Lee, the MP precarity central, brought up the matter while the lower house
01:00was debating a motion raised by the UNC then government
01:03for the approval of the land acquisition requisition order for 100 HDC units in Cora.
01:09Mr. Speaker, in respect to this development, in this same county,
01:17there was a wastewater facility that was being built to assist this area, Mr. Speaker.
01:27Mr. Speaker, that is the Bonaire wastewater plant that started under that administration to assist this area.
01:34The opposition had raised that objection, but the Speaker overruled.
01:38MP Gonzalez later responded to Housing Minister Lee.
01:42Because for him to make that connection between a plant in Bonaire West,
01:49serving a community in Cora,
01:52Mr. Speaker, this minister needs help in his ministry.
01:56He needs help.
02:01And I want to make it abundantly clear, Mr. Speaker,
02:04that that plant in Cora has its own wastewater treatment plant in the Cora area, minister.
02:11You need to know your work.
02:13The housing minister had a message with the opposition.
02:15I am fully aware what is going on in HCC.
02:17So when I mentioned earlier about the corruption underneath them, Mr. Speaker,
02:26this is what I'm talking about.
02:27Because they cannot justify why that plant could move from 3.6,
02:32and in four years it moves to $34 million.
02:35Mr. Speaker, point of order, please.
02:3748-1.
02:38What does this have to do with the bill?
02:42Remember, completely justify the contextual relevance.
02:46And Minister Lee also responded to a point raised earlier
02:50by Opposition MP and former Housing Minister Camille Robinson-Rigis.
02:55My information is, Mr. Speaker,
02:58that these homes are now costing $1.5 million
03:03and $1.7 million, Mr. Speaker.
03:10The Housing Minister responded directly to MP Robinson-Rigis.
03:13I want to tell the member for Trinity Maloney,
03:16The prices of these townhouses are $950,000 for the inner unit
03:24and $1.1 million for the outer unit.
03:26We have not changed the price of those townhouses member for Trinity Maloney.
03:32So whoever told you that information downstairs in HCC,
03:36they're setting you up.
03:37They're setting you up, Trinity Maloney.
03:39They are setting you up.
03:40The land acquisition order was later approved by the lower house.
03:44Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
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