An internal probe by state-owned Petrotrin into allegations of corruption in the controversial South-West Soldado developmental project deal is now complete.
The comprehensive report is currently being perused by line Minister Kevin Ramnarine.
In an interview with the T&T Guardian, Ramnarine said he received the report on Monday and planned to hand it over to his Permanent Secretary (PS) and attorneys from the Energy Ministry for further perusal.
“I am very concerned with the allegations raised and it is important to get to the truth as soon as possible,” Ramnarine said. Asked whether the file would also be given to the police if evidence of wrongdoing were unearthed, Ramnarine said it was too early to say.
“I got the report on Monday and together with my PS we are reviewing the report. It is a comprehensive report and it contains several appendices which includes all documentation of the process. I have given it to the PS and we will make a determination by early or mid next week.”
Asked whether any Petrotrin official would face the axe, Ramnarine said: “That is not my call to remove anyone. It will be for the board and the president of Petrotrin to decide this. As line minister I have to review the matter because the allegations are in the public domain. Based on what we see after we complete the study, we will make a determination by early or mid next week on the next course of action.”
He said: “I want to pass the report to my lawyers to determine if there is any evidence of wrongdoing. After reviewing it, I will meet with the board of Petrotrin and determine what are the findings and a course of action.”
Ramnarine said he did not know if anyone would face criminal charges over allegations that Petrotrin breached its own rules and contract requirements and paid an upfront commissioning fee of US$1.25 million (TT$7.94 million) to Mexican shipping firm Maritima de Ecologia SA de CV (also known as Marecsa).
It is alleged that a senior Petrotrin official pushed through the deal and within weeks of the disputed August 29, 2012, Petrotrin payout, US$750,000 of the US$1.25 million upfront commission was paid into a Houston bank account in Texas, USA, in the name of Membersource Credit Union, and was allegedly transferred to two private bank accounts at the Ellerslie Plaza branch of Scotiabank.