00:00Despite Minister Philip Alexander's assurances that all was above board in the multi-billion dollar procurement process,
00:08the opposition, PNM, is intent on uncovering perceived wrongdoing in the selection of contractors for public housing.
00:16We in the PNM are calling for criminal investigation into this procurement process.
00:23We are also going to be challenging the Office of the Procurement Regulator and looking at the legality of this
00:30because selective tendering is not to be abused.
00:34Of the 11 entities set to be awarded contracts, the opposition says many have no experience in construction
00:41and even worse, a few were only just created.
00:45These companies, many of them, there are companies here that were only incorporated in 2026.
00:53And Trinidad and Tobago, what you're not being told is listen to the number, the figures of the awards
01:00of persons who have no experience or very little in housing.
01:05The opposition is posing the following burning questions.
01:09Imagine one of the contractors who is very close, very close to the hierarchy and leadership of the UNC
01:20has gotten a contract of over a billion dollars.
01:24What was the process used?
01:26These are the questions.
01:27Was the cabinet informed?
01:30And furthermore, did the cabinet approve 3.4 billion dollars?
01:34Are they going to say, well, the cabinet doesn't get involved because it's under public procurement legislation?
01:41Rubbish.
01:42Where's the HTC at any 3.4 billion dollars?
01:45Who is it that decided this?
01:47Were the ministers involved?
01:49Or is it the chairman and the acting CEO?
01:52The opposition, PNM, is putting the government on notice that they will not let up.
01:58Where you're not even paying the nurses, you're not paying public servants on time,
02:04you find 3.4 billion dollars to give out in this manner, and we are also putting you on notice.
02:12Because, you see, information comes to us, especially as it becomes more vulgar.
02:18Look carefully at the Debe campus.
02:21Who is getting the award for the refurbishment of the Debe campus?
02:26Look as well at the port expansion.
02:30Look as well at the marine in Tobago.
02:32And who are the companies, or the company, the favored one, the new MAMU, getting all of these contracts?
02:40Renasa Cutting, TV6 News.
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