Carib Scope

分类： politics

  • Region 3 accounts dept staff to face suspension for missing 10-day salaries

    Region 3 accounts dept staff to face suspension for missing 10-day salaries

    A major administrative shakeup is unfolding in Guyana’s Region Three (West Demerara-Essequibo Islands), where four accounting department employees are set to begin unpaid suspension Monday amid a delayed police probe into the disappearance of GY$2.3 million earmarked for National Pathway worker salaries, a senior regional official has confirmed.

    Region Three Chairman Sheik Mohamed Inshan Ayube told reporters the missing funds were intended for more than 50 program participants, each set to receive a GY$40,000 payment in March 2026. According to the official’s account, after counting and securing the full cash sum in a locked accounting cage ahead of disbursement, the responsible staff left the facility for a midday meal, only to return and find the money no longer located.

    Ayube clarified that the four implicated female employees have already fully restituted the missing sum, ensuring the eligible workers received their scheduled payments without disruption. The staff were initially reassigned to other non-financial roles while the regional administration awaited completion of a police investigation. With the probe dragging on past expected timelines, however, the administration has moved forward with unpaid suspensions that will remain in effect until law enforcement issues a formal, conclusive finding. Any staff members ultimately cleared of wrongdoing will be reinstated to their original positions and receive back pay for the suspension period, Ayube added.

    The current cash-based disbursement process sees the regional administration receive a lump-sum cheque for National Pathway salaries, which is then cashed, split into individual envelope amounts, and distributed directly to workers. This practice has now come under sharp criticism from opposition lawmaker Ganesh Mahipaul of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), who has formally requested the Auditor General of Guyana launch a full independent audit into the incident.

    In his formal request, Mahipaul called for a comprehensive review of how the program funds were allocated, distributed, and managed, with final findings released through official oversight channels. The opposition MP stressed that any financial irregularities must be addressed quickly, with systemic fixes implemented to prevent similar losses of public money in the future. Speaking to Demerara Waves Online News, Mahipaul questioned how such a large sum could go missing under standard financial protocols, arguing that the case almost certainly points to failures in existing accounting and security practices that rely on liquid cash.

    Mahipaul argued that cash disbursements are an unnecessary and high-risk practice in the current policy context, noting that all Guyanese citizens are already required to hold bank accounts to access the government’s universal GY$100,000 cash grant. Switching to individual cheque payments or direct bank transfers would create a mandatory paper trail, he said, that would greatly reduce the risk of misappropriation or loss and make it far easier to trace irregularities when they do occur.

    In response, Chairman Ayube defended the longstanding cash policy, pointing to significant barriers for workers in remote and riverain communities across Region Three. For these residents, traveling to a commercial bank branch to cash a salary cheque represents a major logistical and financial burden that the regional administration seeks to avoid. Ayube noted that the regional government will open discussions with the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development to review the disbursement model moving forward, in light of the recent incident.

    Mahipaul emphasized that the disappearance of funds intended for vulnerable program participants raises serious questions about public financial management. The incident demands urgent, thorough scrutiny to clarify the full circumstances, verify whether required financial protocols were followed, and assign accountability where wrongdoing is found, he said. Public trust in government anti-poverty and employment programs, Mahipaul added, depends entirely on transparent processes, robust independent oversight, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources.

  • Alphonsos, Azruddin Mohamed in row over gold mining rights at quarry concession

    Alphonsos, Azruddin Mohamed in row over gold mining rights at quarry concession

    A high-stakes legal and territorial conflict over overlapping land rights for gold and quarry mining has erupted in Guyana’s Itaballi, Mazaruni district, pitting prominent local business and political figure Azruddin Mohamed against the long-established family-owned Alphonso Mining firm. The dispute, which dates back years, burst into public view in mid-June 2026 after Mohamed filed a formal complaint alleging Alphonso Mining had deployed mining equipment to conduct unauthorized gold extraction on a quarry concession he controls.

    In an official statement released Saturday, Alphonso Mining forcefully rejected all of Mohamed’s claims of illegal trespass, asserting it has held fully valid legal rights to extract gold and diamonds from the disputed plot for more than a decade. According to the company, Alfro Alphonso & Sons acquired the subsurface mineral rights to the land in 2014 through an open, competitive public auction, paid all required fees in full, and has continuously maintained those rights ever since. The firm emphasized that Guyanese law explicitly allows for separate and coexisting mineral rights and quarry material rights, noting that the later quarry license issued to Mohamed’s company Hadi’s World Inc. does not override its pre-existing, legally held mining rights. Alphonso Mining also announced it plans to pursue legal action over what it calls “false and deliberately damaging statements” published on social media pages connected to Mohamed.

    Guyana’s Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat confirmed the government has launched an official probe into the conflicting claims. Speaking to Demerara Waves Online News, Bharrat said the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has deployed an inspection team to conduct an on-the-ground physical survey of the area, with officials currently cross-checking documentation to verify whether all required permits are in order for operations on the site. The minister reaffirmed the country’s existing legal framework that permits separate mineral and quarry rights to be held on the same parcel of land.

    Mohamed, who serves as Guyana’s Opposition Leader and heads the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) political party, acknowledged he is aware that Guyanese law allows for overlapping mineral and quarry rights, but claims he had no prior knowledge that any third party held valid mineral rights to his concession area. “I am not aware of anyone having mineral rights. How all of a sudden persons have mineral rights?” he told reporters, questioning how the rights were granted without his knowledge.

    Mohamed’s company secured its quarry license for the site in June 2021, and has since invested nearly US$25 million to dredge the shallow Mazaruni River channel to allow access for mining barges. However, his operations have been crippled since June 2024, when the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on Azruddin Mohamed and his father over alleged financial crimes linked to their gold export business. The pair have since been indicted by a U.S. federal grand jury and are currently fighting extradition proceedings in Guyanese courts.

    Since the sanctions were imposed, Mohamed says he has been unable to continue production because the licensed importer for mining explosives refused to process his payments from the U.S.-based supplier. He also claims the GGMC has declined to accept future concession payments from him due to the sanctions, an odd contrast he notes to the Guyana Revenue Authority and Attorney General’s Chambers, which have continued to accept his payments.

    The timeline of the incursion, per Mohamed’s account, began after he was forced to move his heavy machinery off-site once he could not acquire explosives, leaving the concession’s infrastructure unprotected. A group of small-scale miners, including local Indigenous Amerindian miners, began mining on the unoccupied land without Mohamed’s permission. After local contacts alerted him to the unauthorized activity, he requested government intervention, prompting the ruling PPP administration to deploy a 50-member armed task force made up of personnel from the GGMC, Guyana Police Force, Guyana Defence Force, and Ministry of Natural Resources to arrest the small miners and bring charges against them.

    It was after this intervention that Mohamed discovered Alphonso Mining had moved its own gold mining equipment onto the concession, triggering the current public dispute. Mohamed warned that the gold mining operations planned by Alphonso Mining pose a major risk of toxic pollution to the Mazaruni River and adjacent agricultural farmlands in the area.

    Alphonso Mining, for its part, is calling on the GGMC and other relevant authorities to launch a separate investigation into what it frames as illegal incursion by the small miners. The firm says key unanswered questions remain: who supported or funded the small miners’ entry to the site, and who purchased the illegally extracted gold from the area. “These are the real questions that deserve answers,” the company stated.

    The dispute also carries tangential links to Guyana’s growing offshore oil sector. Mohamed was once a partner in NRG Holdings, a consortium that included the Alphonso and Deygoo-Boyer families, to develop the US$300 million Vreed-en-Hoop Shorebase, which is contracted by ExxonMobil to support production at the oil major’s Yellowtail offshore oilfield. After news of potential U.S. sanctions against Mohamed broke, Hadi’s World exited the project.

  • United Workers Party to hold youth symposium

    United Workers Party to hold youth symposium

    The United Workers Party (UWP), one of the major political actors in Dominica, has revealed a new targeted initiative aimed at addressing the rising economic challenges facing the island nation’s youth population: a upcoming Youth Symposium set to launch in the coming weeks. The official announcement came from UWP Political Leader Dr. Thomson Fontaine during a recently held press briefing, where he emphasized the party’s long-standing dedication to two core policy priorities: youth empowerment and structural economic reform.

    Dr. Fontaine framed the upcoming symposium as more than just a discussion event; it will act as an accessible, structured platform for open engagement between the party and young Dominican citizens. Attendees will gain access to targeted resources, professional development tools, and clear pathways to formal employment, designed to connect young job seekers with viable work opportunities across the island. This youth-focused effort sits at the heart of the UWP’s broader governing plan, encapsulated in its signature policy framework, the “10 pillars to shared prosperity.” This comprehensive roadmap is built around four central goals: delivering robust, inclusive economic growth, generating sustainable new jobs, lifting young Dominicans out of widespread economic hardship, and guaranteeing fair living wages for all working citizens across the country.

    Beyond youth-focused programming, Dr. Fontaine outlined a slate of sweeping economic policy changes the party would advance if given the opportunity to govern. Among the key proposals are a full overhaul and simplification of Dominica’s current tax code, the full elimination of the controversial $10,000 environmental tax, a mandatory increase to the national minimum wage to no less than $12 per hour, and targeted negotiations for national debt relief to ease the burden of Dominica’s quickly growing national debt load. In a move to prioritize local workers, Dr. Fontaine also made a formal pledge that the party would prioritize domestic employment, requiring that Dominican truckers, skilled tradespeople, and other local workers receive first consideration for all construction and development projects carried out within the country’s borders.

    In closing remarks at the press conference, Dr. Fontaine reaffirmed that the UWP’s entire governing vision is centered on three interconnected outcomes: expanding opportunity for the nation’s young people, strengthening the domestic workforce, and driving long-term, sustainable economic growth that benefits all citizens. “Above all we will provide opportunities to our young people to put them to work and keep them here in Dominica to help us in the vision of developing this country,” he said.

  • Iran Says It Has Shut Strait of Hormuz; U.S. Insists Waterway Remains Open

    Iran Says It Has Shut Strait of Hormuz; U.S. Insists Waterway Remains Open

    In a tense escalation of Middle Eastern tensions that has sent ripples through global energy and diplomatic circles, Iran announced on June 20, 2026 that it has shut down the Strait of Hormuz — the world’s most vital chokepoint for global oil transit. The move came as Tehran issued formal accusations against Israel for breaking a recently agreed ceasefire in Lebanon, and against the United States for failing to honor the terms of a preliminary, tentative deal designed to de-escalate the broader regional conflict, multiple international news outlets have confirmed.

    Contradicting Iran’s announcement outright, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has flatly rejected Tehran’s claim, pushing back that the Islamic Republic does not hold operational control over the strategic waterway, and that commercial shipping traffic continues to flow through the passage without interruption. “Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz,” confirmed Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for CENTCOM. He added that U.S. military forces have maintained active surveillance of the entire region, with a core mission of protecting unimpeded passage for all commercial vessels.

    Data released by CENTCOM via CNN shows that 55 merchant vessels successfully transited the strait on the day prior to Iran’s announcement, carrying more than 17 million barrels of crude oil to global energy markets. U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who is set to lead the American delegation to upcoming negotiations with Iran in Switzerland, told Fox News that current oil transit volumes through the strait have already returned to pre-conflict levels. Vance also emphasized there is no verifiable evidence that Iran has carried out any effective closure of the key waterway.

    These competing claims emerge just days before high-stakes diplomatic talks are scheduled to open in Switzerland. The negotiations will bring together U.S. and Iranian delegations, with third-party mediation from Pakistan and Qatar, as global powers work to prevent a full-scale regional conflict that could upend global energy supplies. Even as diplomatic teams prepare for talks, however, renewed fighting between Israel and Hezbollah continues to undermine chances of a breakthrough. CNN reported that at least 16 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes targeting southern Lebanon on Saturday, with Israeli officials confirming the strikes were launched in direct response to prior offensive actions by Hezbollah.

    Iran has issued a stark final warning to the U.S. in the lead-up to the talks, stating that it will implement what it calls “necessary measures” if Washington fails to meet its obligations under the preliminary de-escalation agreement. The standoff over the Strait of Hormuz has already drawn heightened international attention, as the waterway carries roughly 20% of all global oil consumption, and any prolonged disruption would send shockwaves through energy markets worldwide.

  • Christmas The Double Salary will be tax-free without a salary cap, according to Law 30-26

    Christmas The Double Salary will be tax-free without a salary cap, according to Law 30-26

    In a landmark legislative move that will deliver direct financial relief to working people across the country, the National Congress has formally passed Law 30-26, legislation that codifies permanent full tax exemption for the 13th-month salary, more commonly known as the annual Christmas bonus.

    Unlike prior regulatory frameworks that imposed partial taxation on bonuses exceeding five times the national minimum wage, the new law makes clear that every worker will receive their full bonus amount with zero tax deductions, no matter how large the bonus payment is. To embed this protection in existing labor regulation, Law 30-26 adds a clarifying paragraph to Article 222 of the national Labor Code, explicitly reaffirming that the Christmas bonus tax exemption applies regardless of any salary cap.

    Rogelio Hernández, a prominent labor law attorney, broke down the regulatory history that contextualizes this new legislation. He explained that before the passage of Law 204-97 in 1997, any portion of a Christmas bonus that surpassed five times the minimum wage was classified as a taxable supplementary benefit, requiring workers to pay income tax on that excess amount. While Law 204-97 first established full exemption for Christmas bonuses, the new Law 30-26 removes lingering regulatory ambiguity by formally reaffirming and entrenching this policy in binding statute.

    “Now, under Law 30-26, the entire Christmas bonus is exempt, regardless of the amount. Whether a worker earns RD$500,000 or RD$1,000,000, they will receive the full amount as a Christmas bonus,” Hernández confirmed.

    Beyond the Christmas bonus tax exemption, Law 30-26 includes a broad package of fiscal reforms designed to strengthen national fiscal discipline and buffer the domestic economy against ongoing global economic instability. Key additional provisions include flexible payment plans for taxpayers, generous discounts for early tax payments, a nationwide tax amnesty program running through December 2026, and updated adjusted tax brackets for both individual earners and legal business entities. Critics had previously warned that outdated indexing of income tax brackets would push more workers into higher tax brackets and force increased tax payments, a concern that the new legislation addresses through its updated rate structure.

    The elimination of any partial taxation on Christmas bonuses puts an end to the long-standing issue of double taxation on worker compensation, a reform that labor advocates have championed for years to ensure working people retain the full benefit of their annual holiday pay.

  • The use of public force was necessary to remove the former president of the Cibao Oncology Center.

    The use of public force was necessary to remove the former president of the Cibao Oncology Center.

    What began as a legitimate 2018 appointment to lead the Cibao Regional Cancer Institute (IORC) ended in a forced expulsion seven years later, after the former leader refused to step down following the end of his two-year term and now faces criminal charges for diverting public funds meant for vulnerable low-income cancer patients.

    Héctor Antonio Lora Cruceta was formally named president of both IORC’s Board of Directors and its governing Board of Trustees on October 9, 2018, with a statutory term limit of just two years. When his tenure expired in 2020, Lora Cruceta refused to cede power, clinging to his position for an additional five years beyond his legal mandate. By October 2025, governing body officials had exhausted all administrative avenues to remove him, prompting the Board of Trustees to call an Extraordinary General Assembly on October 6 that year. During the meeting, members voted unanimously to install a new, legitimate Board of Directors led by Dr. Iván Alexis Mercader Mateo.

    Rather than comply with the democratic decision of the board, Lora Cruceta — who stands accused of heading a criminal network that siphoned off millions of pesos in funding for low-income cancer care — launched a barrage of legal appeals to block the transfer of power. His obstruction dragged on for weeks, until authorities launched Operation Oncol4, arresting Lora Cruceta and his remaining allied board members and initiating criminal proceedings against the group.

    Even after the unanimous vote to replace his leadership, Lora Cruceta and four other former board members — including his ex-wife Dilcia Vargas Sánchez, Thelma Sadi Rodríguez Báez, and Yanet Rodríguez — continued their efforts to reverse the outcome of the Extraordinary General Assembly. On October 23, 2025, the group filed a lawsuit seeking to invalidate the October 6 assembly, falsely claiming they still held legal authority to represent the institute. One week later, they filed a second civil suit to suspend the assembly’s results and request court-ordered asset sequestration of the board.

    In the most damaging act of obstruction, on November 7, the ousted former leaders used an official bailiff’s order to block the transfer of the Cibaeño Cancer Foundation’s financial securities to major local banking institutions including BHD Bank, Banco de Reservas, and the La Altagracia Cooperative, as well as to other authorized entities. This action severely disrupted the day-to-day operations of the non-profit cancer institute, which relies on consistent access to its funds to deliver care to vulnerable patients.

    It was not until October 15, 2025, that the legitimate new leadership was able to access the institute’s facilities. After repeated attempts to negotiate a voluntary transfer failed and Lora Cruceta and his allies refused to vacate the Board of Trustees’ premises, officials were forced to request intervention from state security forces to physically remove the illegal incumbents. Court documents supporting the use of coercive measures note that this intervention was unavoidable: up to that point, the ousted former leadership had actively blocked the legitimately elected October 6 board — comprising Mercader Mateo, Dr. Naly Antonia Cruz Ventura, Nicolás Edmundo de Jesús Guillén Guzmán, Edilma Inés Rodríguez Vargas, and Radhamés José Rosado Sánchez — from taking up their official posts and beginning their work.

  • 115 Apply to Represent PUP in 2027 Municipal Elections

    115 Apply to Represent PUP in 2027 Municipal Elections

    Belize’s main political organization, the People’s United Party (PUP), has wrapped up its candidate application period for the upcoming 2027 national municipal elections, closing nominations to all contenders as the party moves to the next phase of candidate selection. Scheduled to take place on March 3, 2027, the municipal elections will fill leadership and council seats across all nine of Belize’s local municipal jurisdictions, and PUP’s call for potential candidates drew widespread interest from communities across the country.

    According to official statements released by the party, a total of 115 Belizeans submitted completed applications to run under the PUP banner in next year’s local elections. The breakdown of applications shows that 15 prospective candidates put their names forward for the highly contested mayoral positions, while the remaining 100 applications came from individuals aiming to secure seats on local town and city councils spread across the nation’s nine municipalities.

    With the application window now formally closed, the process of selecting the party’s official slate will shift to PUP’s internal governing bodies. First up, the party’s National Campaign Committee will launch a comprehensive vetting process to screen all 115 applicants, reviewing their qualifications, community standing, alignment with party platforms, and eligibility to run for public office. Once the vetting period concludes and the committee produces its shortlist of recommended candidates, PUP’s National Executive will convene for formal deliberations before making the final decisions on which candidates will advance to appear on the PUP ticket in the March 2027 polls.

  • CARICOM Must Accelerate Digital Transformation to Safeguard Competitiveness, Resilience and Sovereignty

    CARICOM Must Accelerate Digital Transformation to Safeguard Competitiveness, Resilience and Sovereignty

    Against a backdrop of shifting global digital dynamics and rising economic uncertainty, Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell has issued a clarion call for accelerated, deeper regional collaboration to drive forward digital transformation across the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). As the Lead Head of Government responsible for Science and Technology within CARICOM’s Quasi Cabinet, Mitchell made his case at the opening session of a gathering of the bloc’s ICT ministers, an event convened around the core theme ‘Accelerating Digital Development to 2030’.

    In his opening remarks, Mitchell emphasized that modern digital technologies have transitioned from optional innovations to foundational pillars of lasting economic resilience, robust national security, and inclusive sustainable development across the region. He pointed to the tangible progress CARICOM has already unlocked through collective action, including the advancement of the CARICOM Single ICT Space, formal adoption of the 2025–2030 Strategic Framework for Digital Resilience, and enhanced cross-regional coordination on critical cybersecurity initiatives.

    “If CARICOM is to retain its global competitiveness and remain relevant in the 21st century, we must act collectively and strategically to guarantee our region is not sidelined on the margins of the fast-growing global digital economy,” Mitchell told assembled delegates. The prime minister stressed that small island states are particularly vulnerable to the ripple effects of global uncertainty, economic volatility, and shifting geopolitical tensions, making coordinated action non-negotiable as the world updates rules for key digital domains including artificial intelligence, digital trade, and data and internet governance. No individual CARICOM member state can successfully navigate the complex digital transition in isolation, Mitchell argued, noting that coordinated regional action is the only path to collective strength.

    “It is time we move decisively from policy discussions to measurable implementation and tangible outcomes to build a unified CARICOM digital economy,” he added.

    A key focus of Mitchell’s remarks centered on the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, a technology increasingly recognized as a defining force reshaping the global economic landscape. He noted that AI can streamline public service delivery, boost cross-sector productivity, and catalyze the creation of entirely new industries across the Caribbean. For CARICOM’s small developing economies, AI opens an unprecedented opportunity to leapfrog traditional, slower development pathways. Still, Mitchell cautioned that widespread adoption of the technology must be rooted in core principles of inclusion, public trust, and ethical governance to ensure benefits are shared broadly.

    Mitchell also highlighted two under-prioritized priorities for the bloc: expanding investments in foundational digital infrastructure, strengthening cybersecurity systems, advancing digital skills training, and updating regulatory frameworks that can keep pace with rapid technological change, as well as equipping the region’s large youth population with the tools they need to participate and thrive in the growing digital economy. With 60% of CARICOM’s 16 million citizens under the age of 30, investing in youth digital inclusion is critical to unlocking the bloc’s long-term digital potential.

    During the three-day meeting, ministers reviewed and formally approved new frameworks covering cross-regional digital cooperation, AI governance, cybersecurity standards, and digital skills development.

    Established in 1973 via the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas, CARICOM revised its founding agreement in 2001 to enable the creation of a single market and single economy. Today, the bloc counts 15 full member states and six associate members, serving a combined population of roughly 16 million people. Its work is organized around four core pillars: economic integration, coordinated foreign policy, human and social development, and security cooperation. Widely regarded as one of the most successful integration projects in the developing world, CARICOM’s overarching mission is to build an integrated, inclusive, and resilient community driven by knowledge, innovation, excellence, and productivity, where every citizen has equal opportunity to pursue their potential amid guaranteed human rights and social justice, and shares in the bloc’s collective prosperity. The CARICOM Secretariat, the bloc’s central administrative body, is headquartered in Georgetown, Guyana.

  • Wijnerman erkent inconsistenties in begrotings- en schuldcijfers

    Wijnerman erkent inconsistenties in begrotings- en schuldcijfers

    Suriname’s Minister of Finance and Planning Adelien Wijnerman has publicly acknowledged conflicting numerical discrepancies across three key government fiscal documents: the 2026 national budget, annual financial plan, and national debt schedule. The admission came during Friday’s parliamentary budget debate, after multiple members of the National Assembly raised questions about mismatched spending and revenue figures across the policy papers.

    Wijnerman explained that the inconsistencies stemmed from the documents being drafted at separate time points, rather than intentional misreporting. She has committed to updating all conflicting figures and submitting revised versions of the documents to the National Assembly before the second round of budget deliberations gets underway. Government ministers will continue responding to parliamentary questions on Monday, with seven cabinet members having already spoken to lawmakers as of Friday’s session.

    The minister laid out the core 2026 fiscal projections to the assembly, confirming that total state revenues are forecast at roughly 65 billion Surinamese dollars (SRD), while total annual expenditures are projected at approximately SRD 77 billion. This produces a projected budget deficit of SRD 12.8 billion, equal to 5.1% of the country’s gross domestic product.

    Wijnerman also noted that Suriname’s current debt-to-GDP ratio remains above the legal cap of 60% set by national law. Under recent legislative changes, the country has until the end of 2029 to bring the national debt back down to the 60% threshold. The government plans to meet this target through a combination of scheduled debt repayments, constrained fiscal deficits, sustained economic growth, and prioritizing financing from multilateral and bilateral institutional sources.

    For the second half of 2026, the minister projected total debt service obligations will reach roughly SRD 9.8 billion. Around SRD 6 billion of that total will go toward foreign interest payments and principal repayments, while SRD 4 billion will cover domestic debt obligations. Wijnerman added that approximately 19% of the government’s total projected 2026 revenue will be allocated to debt interest and repayment costs.

    She clarified that all funds reflected in the current debt plan are tied to previously finalized loan agreements, not new borrowing. The funds are earmarked for program-related spending in the 2026 fiscal year. The updated national debt plan will be submitted to parliament alongside the revised budget documents ahead of the next debate round.

  • Penny: Govt mum on $3.4b HDC ‘fiasco’

    Penny: Govt mum on $3.4b HDC ‘fiasco’

    A major political firestorm has erupted in Trinidad and Tobago over a canceled $3.4 billion public housing procurement process, with opposition leader Pennelope Beckles demanding Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar immediately dismiss three senior housing ministers and the entire board of the state-run Housing Development Corporation (HDC).

    The controversy centers on HDC’s June 17 announcement that it was terminating award proceedings for the massive housing construction contracts, a move that came months after the Office of Procurement Regulation (OPR) ordered a suspension of the process to launch a formal review. The contracts had been provisionally allocated to a group of vendors that included recently incorporated firms with no proven track record delivering large-scale public housing projects, a detail that first raised red flags among opposition critics in mid-April.

    In a scathing rebuke of the ruling People’s Partnership (UNC) administration, Beckles condemned the opaque manner in which HDC framed the cancellation, which was listed only under the vague tender identifier RFP No. 050126 – DBF – Portfolio 1. She argued that the vague labeling was intentional, designed to prevent ordinary taxpayers from grasping the full scope and significance of the decision to scrap the award process.

    For Beckles, the cancellation itself amounts to an unspoken admission that the original contract awards were improper, awarded under deeply suspicious, corrupt circumstances that reflect poorly on the entire UNC government. With thousands of Trinidadian households struggling with housing insecurity and many on the brink of economic hardship, Beckles said the opposition is committed to holding what she calls a “self-serving, corrupt administration” accountable, and rooting out graft before it becomes entrenched in national governance.

    Beckles also slammed the government for failing to address the fiasco during more than 50 hours of parliamentary debate over the previous week, noting that not one government official acknowledged the scandal or addressed widespread public frustration over ongoing failures in the national housing sector. She claimed that the three targeted ministers—David Lee, Phillip Alexander, and Anil Roberts—have delivered no meaningful progress for the housing sector, arguing that Roberts and Alexander have instead focused on launching divisive, vitriolic attacks on the public while turning a blind eye to mismanagement at the HDC, allowing what is now one of the largest public procurement scandals in recent national history to unfold unchecked.

    “The UNC can run, but they will have no place to hide. The war Barry Padarath seeks is just starting, and it is against a corrupt Government caught red-handed in the act in less than one year in office,” Beckles said, reaffirming her demand for the immediate dismissal of the ministers and HDC board.

    The timeline of the scandal traces back to April, when the OPR ordered HDC to suspend the contract award pending a full review of procurement procedures. HDC has stated that its final decision to cancel the process was made in accordance with Section 33 of the 2015 Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act, following completion of bid evaluations and the end of the mandatory statutory standstill period. As of press time, OPR chair Beverly Khan has not responded to repeated requests for comment on the review, and Housing Minister David Lee told local outlet the Express he would issue a formal statement soon, but had not released any comment as of Wednesday evening.

    Speaking in defense of the government, Minister in the Ministry of Housing Phillip Alexander pushed back against corruption claims, insisting that the government’s core target of delivering thousands of new affordable homes to Trinidadian families remains firmly on track, despite the cancellation of the original procurement process. Alexander stressed that the first phase of the planned 3,700-unit national housing program has only been paused, not scrapped entirely, and the government remains fully committed to expanding access to homeownership across the country.

    Alexander argued that progress on the housing initiative cannot be delayed indefinitely, noting that pre-vetted developers lined up for the project already have private financing in place to deliver units at no direct cost to the state, and that financing cannot be held in limbo indefinitely. He rejected opposition claims that the program was designed to reward political allies and financial backers of the UNC, contrasting the current process with what he claimed was widespread crony contracting during the previous 10-year PNM administration.

    “This is not a friends and financier plan as the PNM did for the entirety of their ten years. All other developers who qualify and have the capacity to deliver within set timeframes and budgets are welcome to tender,” Alexander said.

    He reaffirmed that all of the Prime Minister’s housing delivery promises remain in place, and the government’s goal of placing as many families as possible into homeownership during this parliamentary term has not changed. Going forward, Alexander pledged that all future procurement processes for the housing program would meet and exceed the transparency requirements set by national oversight bodies, with the overarching goals of lowering housing costs, improving construction quality, and making homeownership accessible even to low-income households earning minimum wage.

    Additional details on the restructured procurement process, including new calls for proposals and tender invitations, will be released to the public in the coming weeks, Alexander confirmed.

    The controversy first erupted in mid-April, when former prime minister Stuart Young first raised alarms about the composition of the selected vendors, urging the public to closely monitor how taxpayer dollars are being allocated for the project. Young pointed out that multiple firms selected for the contracts had little to no experience delivering large-scale public housing projects for the HDC, with only a small handful of the awardees holding the necessary industry experience and financial capacity to complete the massive construction work. The proposed allocations ranged from a $1 billion award to Mootilal Ramhit and Sons Contracting Ltd down to a $201 million contract for Adam’s Construction Ltd, across 11 selected vendors.