Cummings denounces allegations of unscrupulous businesses; calls it a “calculated attack”

Home*Cover Story*News

Cummings denounces allegations of unscrupulous businesses; calls it a “calculated attack”

La Horquetta/Talparo MP, Foster Cummings has denounced the allegations made by United National Congress senator, Jayanti Lutchmedial.

At a media conference on Friday, the Minister of Youth Development and National Service firmly stated that neither he nor his family has any connection to an HDC property located at Ibis Avenue in Point Lisas.

He also stated that the leaking of a Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) Special Branch report into his business activities was a “calculated attack” on his character.

The document consists of only two pages – a cover page with the official TTPS Special Branch letterhead and a second page titled “Note Foster Cummings Activities of.” Both pages bore stamps at the top in red ink, proclaiming it “SECRET.”

In it, Special Branch officers listed allegations against Cummings, including that he was affiliated with two construction companies – Pical Services Limited (PSL) and Cyldeon Enterprises Limited (CEL.)

It was alleged that Cummings had conducted unscrupulous businesses, through the aforementioned companies as well as the Housing Development Corporation (HDC),” the document states.

Lutchmemdial raised the issue during a UNC meeting on Thursday night and called on Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to say if he’s aware of the matter.

She said if, as National Security Council chairman, Rowley had such information, “why did he approve the person to contest a general election and subsequently appointed them a minister.”

Lutchmedial claimed the Special Branch report had appeared in her mailbox.

But Cummings has discredited the findings.

He said: “It is clear that this is a calculated attack on my reputation and character, which I denounce in the strongest terms.”

He said, “I served as a director of Pical Services Limited, from its inception until 2016 and relinquished all managerial responsibilities upon my appointment as Parliament Secretary in 2019.”

He described the leaked document as “serious, dangerous and inaccurate.” He also questioned the legitimacy of the document, which added that Cummings “has claimed three (3) parcels of land belonging to the HDC as his own.”

It went on to list the lands – stating two parcels were located along the Southern Main Road, while the third was located at Ibis Gardens, Point Lisas.

“The allegation that I claimed three parcels of HDC land at Point Lisas Couva is completely false, I own a parcel of land at Balisier Street West, Point Lisas, which was purchased from a private individual,” Cummings said.

He said his wife owns the land on the corner of the Southern Main Road and Balisier Street East, Point Lisas. The land where his family home was built did belong to the HDC, Cummings said.

“All properties owned by my wife and I have been properly declared to the Integrity Commission. Neither, I nor my family has any connection to an HDC property located at Ibis Street Point Lisas,” the minister pointed out.

COMMENTS

WORDPRESS: 0
DISQUS: 0