The commission of enquiry into the Las Alturas housing project adjourned early yesterday after the lead attorney Vincent Nelson, QC, representing the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) was unable to be heard as he had not yet been granted permission by the High Court to practise locally. Nelson arrived late to yesterday's hearing as he was delayed at the High Court, Port-of-Spain, as he attempted to secure the requisite permission.
Apologising for Nelson’s absence when the proceedings resumed at 9.30 am at the Caribbean Court of Justice, Henry Street, Port-of-Spain, attorney Larry Lalla who is appearing alongside Nelson blamed administrative matters for Nelson’s position. However, Lalla said they were hopeful that everything would have been sorted out this morning. Nelson is expected to lead off this morning’s session.
Although the HDC’s attorneys were unable to proceed, attorney Kathryn Denbow delivered her opening remarks on behalf of her client, the Urban Development Corporation of T&T (Udecott). In her short address, Denbow said they would be calling one witness, project manager Atiba de Souza. De Souza was assigned to the $40 million controversial project as a civil engineer between 2005 and 2006 before the project was handed over to the HDC.
Also delivering opening remarks on behalf of their client Geotech Associates Ltd (GA), attorney Justin Phelps told the commission that they were attempting to “weigh the legal responsibilities without the full benefit of the full contractual matrix.” Explaining that there were contractual relationships, the details of which had not been fully disclosed, Phelps said GA's legal team was unaware of the terms and references of some of these contracts. The commission’s chairman indicated they would be visiting the site later on.
AT A GLANCE
The commission of enquiry was set up to investigate “the entire process which led to the construction of the Las Alturas Towers at Lady Young Gardens, Morvant, and all other acts, matters or decisions done or undertaken incidental to and including the construction” of the project, which includes the procurement process. Two multi-storey units of the Las Alturas housing project began falling apart after construction and the $26 million towers were earmarked for demolition.
They were part of a larger project, which was originally budgeted at $65 million and then rose to $90 million. The commission is chaired by former Justice of Appeal Mustapha Ibrahim. The other members include civil engineers, Dr Myron Wing-Sang Chin and Anthony Farrell. Attorney Laraine Lutchmedial is the secretary. They were appointed by President Anthony Carmona last December. Last September, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar recommended an enquiry into the project after raising concerns about the two towers which had to be demolished.
Persad-Bissessar said Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley, who was a former housing minister under the PNM, as well as Emily Gaynor Dick-Forde, who succeeded him, have distanced themselves from blame. Rowley said though he welcomed the probe, it would be another waste of taxpayers’ dollars.