The project management company initially responsible for the controversial Las Alturas Housing Development was replaced shortly after it discovered structural issues which threatened to derail the project.
This was revealed by Winston Riley, chairman of the company Planning Associates Ltd (PAL), as he continued his evidence in the commission of enquiry into the multi-million dollar housing development, at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)’s Henry Street, Port-of-Spain, headquarters yesterday.
As he was being led through his evidence by lead counsel for the commission Pamela Elder, SC, Riley explained that although his company was hired by the State-owned Urban Development Corporation of T&T (Udecott), it was informed that its services were no longer required by its successor Civil Engineering Management and Services (CEMAS).
Referring to a letter between the two companies sent in January 2007, Riley described CEMAS’s dialogue with PAL as “an insult” as he thought such important communication should come from the Housing Development Corporation (HDC), which had replaced Udecott as developers while the project was still in its planning stage. Riley also questioned whether a proper tendering process had been employed in selecting his company’s replacement.
Riley was then cross-examined by CEMAS’s lawyer Emerson John-Charles, who questioned whether PAL had responded to his client’s request to provide all the material it had relevant to the project to the HDC.
“If CEMAS was on the site they would have all the information,” a fiery Riley quipped before saying, “I suspect it was.”
Questioned by the HDC’s lawyer British Queen’s Counsel Vincent Nelson on how his company learnt that the project was being built on an active fault line, Riley admitted that PAL did not conduct an extensive geotechnical survey at the time.
Instead, he said, his company discovered the issue of the shifting land from its own surveys and its experience on the site located off the Lady Young Road in Morvant.
He added that while still involved in the project, PAL explored several options to address the problem. However, he said, a long-term and cost-effective solution could not be found.
“We looked at four different foundation types but these were not feasible for low-cost housing,” Riley said.
In his evidence on Monday, Riley said that PAL had informed Udecott of issues with contractor China Jiangsu International Corp T&T Ltd before it eventually signed a contract for the project. The Chinese firm has sent a pre-action protocol letter to the commission requesting that it be removed as a party to the proceedings.
Commission chairman Mustapha Ibrahim and members Dr. Myron Wing-Sang Chin and Anthony Farrell were hoping to complete Riley’s evidence yesterday; however, their plans were hampered after lawyer for surveying firm Geotech Associates Ltd, Justin Phelps, indicated that he was not ready to proceed with his cross-examination.
Phelps said he only recently received the documents and witness statements being considered by the commission and could not properly defend his client’s position without having some time to consider the evidence.
Phelps said, “It is unacceptable. I cannot carry on like this.”
“Are you seeking leave to withdraw from these proceedings?” Ibrahim responded.
Phelps said he would have to consult his clients before indicating his position to Ibrahim.
As a result of Phelps’ request for additional time, Riley’s evidence has been put on hold until tomorrow.
The commission will resume this morning with the evidence of Dr Robert Ratay, an international forensic structural engineer who conduced several tests on the site which led to the eventual demolition of two of the buildings which were most affected by the unstable land.