Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner claimed yesterday the Government had leased the Chaguaramas Convention Centre to a businessman who is a friend of Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal. Warner was speaking to reporters after yesterday’s sitting of the House of Representatives. He said he attempted to have the issue “put on the record” in Parliament but did not succeed. Warner told reporters the facility was leased for $30 million.
Moonilal denied Warner’s claim in an e-mailed response yesterday. When the question was put to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar by Warner in Parliament she was unable to give details but promised to provide the required information soon. The House was adjourned to next Friday when debate on a motion of no confidence in House Speaker Wade Mark filed by Warner would commence.
Warner said yesterday he intended to “expose Mark in ways unimaginable.” Warner said Mark had not apologised to him for the controversy over a private motion of no confidence against Finance and the Economy Minister Larry Howai last month which was shot down on the basis of a pending High Court lawsuit.
At that time, Mark said he had been informed by the Judiciary that the matter up for debate was sub-judice. He later had to apologise to the Judiciary for the error and noted that he was really referring to a letter from Howai which stated that he had filed a lawsuit against Warner’s Sunshine newspaper and one of its editors regarding allegations of financial misconduct while he worked at First Citizens bank.
The motion against Mark is not expected to succeed as the Government has the majority in Parliament. Warner said, however, “Outside the House we have the majority.” He said next Friday would be “Jack Warner Day” in Parliament. —Richard Lord