00:00Mark Bassant is, as from what I've always read about Mark Bassant, he purports to be
00:06an investigative reporter. Maybe he knows, you know, if he knows something, as everybody
00:12would say, if you know something and you feel it means going to the police, then he should
00:17go to the police. He shouldn't do the bait-and-switch kind of story that he normally does. So if
00:23he has more information, if he's selling newspapers, then we wait the outcome of maybe part two
00:28or part three. The response of Housing Minister David Lee to a report carried in the Sunday
00:34Express, in which CCN investigative journalist Mark Bassant reports that he was offered a
00:41bribe by a man claiming to represent an HTC official who is said to be involved in alleged collusion
00:48in the award of housing contracts. The Office of Procurement Regulation is currently investigating
00:54the procurement process he's employed for the over $3 billion housing program.
00:59From what I'm aware, based on what I've read, no one has been issued any contracts by HTC.
01:05But are you concerned as Minister that there is a public perception that maybe the HTC is
01:10a little out of control or that there's a lot of controversy surrounding it right now?
01:15No, I would still say, let us hear what the OPR has to say. And they are the regulators. So
01:24we wait the outcome.
01:26Would you be surprised if the OPR were to find that there is wrongdoing?
01:30Would I be surprised? I can't answer that question because I'm not involved in the procurement process.
01:37I, David Lee, do not get involved in any procurement process. It is not part of my remit. So when
01:45I hear
01:46Camille Robinson Reyes, he's talking about maybe she was involved, but I am not involved because there's not
01:52the legislation does not allow ministers to get involved in any procurement process.
01:59However, Minister Lee says he has proof of corruption under the PNM administration.
02:05In time, it will come out. I have a big document here.
02:09Is there anything particular that stood out to you that you think should be a public?
02:13A lot, a lot, a lot, a lot.
02:15Meantime, the OPR is also investigating the newly formed state entity, Landmark TT Properties Limited,
02:22having received complaints alleging that the Alambi Residential Development Project in San Fernando
02:29was awarded through a selective tendering process and not the open competitive bidding process required
02:36under the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act.
02:41However, Minister of Land and Legal Affairs, Salam Hossein, under whom the entity falls,
02:47refused to take questions from the media today.
02:51Renessa Cutting, TV6 News.
02:54Renessa Cutting, TV6 News.
02:56EMMA TALANA
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