Opposition MP Rodney Charles has called on “patriots of integrity, class and character” to boycott the reopening of the renovated headquarters of the People’s National Movement, Balisier House, as it celebrates its 68th anniversary.
In a social media post Charles questioned how the project was financed by the ruling party.
Charles, who questioned procurement for the project, added, “It defies logic that in this guava season, where everybody is catching their ‘nenen’, any political party can prioritise and raise an estimated $150 million refurbishment.
Read the full statement here:
Bright red symbol of shame, profligacy, kickbacks and corruption.
Attendees at this weekend’s opening of the renovated, multi-million dollar, babylonian symbol of corruption, Balisier House will, by their presence, be complicit in showcasing TT’s pervasive culture of political corruption and lack of transparency.
Shame on anyone who dignifies Saturday’s function with their presence.
Rowley refuses point blank to answer questions surrounding the financing of this monument of opulence, malfeasance and profligacy that symbolizes PNM’s unfortunate “all ah we thief” culture.
It defies logic that in this guava season, where everybody is catching their “nenen”, any political party can prioritize and raise an estimated $150 million refurbishment.
PM Rowley is yet to outright deny that the alleged brothel owner, with whom he was closely photographed, was connected in any form or fashion to Balisier House financing.
Or whether his close friend from A&V drilling contributed.
Or whether favoured contractors and recipients of allegedly padded legal briefs donated.
Or whether there was any substance to claims in June 2023 by THA Chief Secretary, Farley Augustine that two senior members of the Government asked that he find ways to give a contractor, who just happened to be a close friend of PM Rowley, $60 out of the $100 million Budget supplementation given to the THA in May 2023.
Or whether, as many suspect, cheques were allegedly being issued to PNM LGE candidates by contractors in hopes of fast tracking payments owed by the State.
We recall that construction on Balisier House was halted for months, only to be suspiciously restarted on the eve of Local Government elections. Was this done to take advantage of the loopholes in the gutted procurement legislation?
We must ask whether the lack of accountability and transparency regarding the financiers of Balisier House is one of the reasons why we remain on the EU blacklist for money laundering, while Jamaica, Barbados and Grenada have been taken off.
Last Friday, Parliament passed legislation to assuage EU concerns about beneficial ownership of assets in TT.
Who are the beneficial owners of BH? The PNM party or the silent financiers who pull the strings?
Any serious country’s leadership would long ago have provided answers to these disturbing questions. But Dr. Rowley’s silence, backed up by “in your face”, “don’t care damn” celebrations gives credence to the view, which is daily gaining credence, that TT is not a real place.