Trinidad and Tobago’s main opposition party, the People’s National Movement (PNM), has levelled serious accusations against the ruling United National Congress (UNC) administration, claiming the government is leveraging a newly created state-owned housing entity to funnel taxpayer funds to political campaign backers. The allegations were formally brought forward during a press briefing hosted at the Office of the Opposition Leader in Port of Spain by Malabar/Mausica Member of Parliament Dominic Romain.
At the heart of the controversy is LandmarkTT Properties Ltd, a special-purpose state enterprise incorporated in 2026 under the Ministry of Land and Legal Affairs. The firm was established to roll out a new public-private partnership model for unsubsidized, premium residential development across the country. However, the entity is already facing scrutiny from the national procurement regulator over its handling of the $100 million Allamby Residential Development project slated for Corinth, San Fernando.
Romain pointed to ongoing questions around the project’s procurement process, noting that irregularities have already been flagged in the request for proposal phase. He claimed last-minute adjustments to bidding requirements put multiple competing contractors at an unfair disadvantage, while unsuccessful bidders have publicly raised concerns about a lack of transparency around the project’s scope and its $100 million price tag. Adding to the red flags, Romain noted that LandmarkTT’s official website remains incomplete even as the company has begun asking prospective homebuyers to join a so-called “priority access list” for its luxury properties. He also argued that the government’s broader approach of repurposing public land for private luxury development benefits connected private interests rather than addressing widespread affordable housing needs.
Drawing a parallel to a past controversial project under a previous UNC administration, Romain recalled the Victoria Keys development in Diego Martin, where eligibility criteria were relaxed to include higher-income applicants— a change that ultimately allowed party allies and financiers to access benefits, he claimed. He added that Land and Legal Affairs Minister Saddam Hosein has repeatedly dodged press inquiries about LandmarkTT and the Allamby project, leaving critical questions unanswered.
The allegations align with a formal inquiry launched by the Office of Procurement Regulation (OPR). In correspondence dated April 20, the regulator wrote to LandmarkTT addressing complaints that the state enterprise bypassed mandatory open bidding in favor of a selective tendering process for the Allamby contract, a move that potentially violates the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act. The OPR warned that given the contract’s $100 million value, the risks of adverse financial and economic outcomes are significantly heightened, particularly for high-value, high-risk procurement where failure to secure value for public money has broad consequences. Romain also questioned the vetting and hiring process for senior leadership and staff at LandmarkTT, accusing the government of attempting to mislead the public about the entity’s true purpose.
In separate remarks at the same press briefing, Diego Martin West MP Hans des Vignes raised a separate set of concerns, warning that reduced state funding for sports, cultural, and youth programs could create conditions for a repeat of the notorious LifeSport corruption scandal that rocked previous administrations.
Romain closed by calling on all Trinidad and Tobago citizens to remain vigilant about how the UNC government manages national public assets, and to demand full transparency and accountability for all government procurement processes.