Opposition senator wants purchase of 4 vessels investigated

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Opposition senator wants purchase of 4 vessels investigated

“The scandal of the century.”
That is how Opposition Senator, Wade Mark, has described government’s purchase of four vessels to service the seabridge.

Speaking during the UNC’s weekly Sunday morning press conference, Mark raised questions about the purchase of these vessels and is demanding that a criminal investigation be launched.

He told the media that he had documents from the Parliament website regarding the credit agreement with the Export Finance Insurance Corporation (EFIC) of Australia and the T&T Government for the purchase of the APT James, which is currently in TT, and another vessel being built by Australian shipbuilder INCAT.

Mark said these two vessels cost taxpayers over $1 billion and “we are yet to know the terms and conditions of these agreements.”

He said the only way they will find out is through the contracts between the Government and sellers and it cannot be found.

Mark said the same goes for the two cape class vessels that were bought for the Coast Guard. “The shipbuilding contracts cannot be seen.”

He said US$617 million was spent on the two new fast ferries and $655 million on the cape class vessels.

Mark called for an immediate criminal probe into the purchase of the four vessels, stating that the prices have been way too exorbitant.

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