(Trinidad Express) Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh has described as a “malicious lie” a report in yesterday’s Express that former head of the Strategic Services Agency, Reshmi Ramnarine, who has changed her name to Shashi Rehka, was working in his ministry.
Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley had revealed that Ramnarine had changed her name, quoting from the deed poll document during his piloting of the motion of no-confidence in the House of Representatives on Friday.
He stated further that she had obtained a contract job with the government.
Speaking in the House of Representatives, Gopeesingh said Rowley’s motion had no substance and merit.
He had to resort to assassinating someone’s character by the change of a name.
“What does the change of a name have to do with a motion of no- confidence (in the Prime Minister)? It is the legitimate right of anyone to change a name. Particularly when someone has been persecuted as the Opposition persecuted this young lady over a period of time,” he said.
Gopeesingh said the Express report that Ramnarine was employed at his ministry was a “categorical lie”. He added that it was shameful that neither the head of the Political Desk nor anyone from the paper called him to verify the information.
“They failed to practise the fundamental ethics of journalism,” he said, adding that Ramnarine has never worked with the ministry.
The minister addressed allegations made by Diego Martin North East Colm Imbert who had charged that a feeding frenzy was taking place at the Educational Facilities Ltd.
He said he mentioned to the Prime Minister that there were some problems and she told him to deal with it. He said the Lakshmi Girls Auditorium, the tenders were open to 18 contractors, but four were eventually examined.
These included Moosai ($15 million); Envirotech ($14 million) and Civistrcut (13.4 million). He said the management recommended Civistrcut but the board was not provided with evidence that Civistrcut had the financial capability to fund the project. Civistrcut had never done any previous work for EFCL and hence the evaluation of their technical capability was solely a subjective one since the acting CEO was a former employee.
He said the board looked at technical and financial capability and the best company was Moosai. However the best value for money was deemed to be Envirotech.
He said since Civistrcut had written to him, the PM instructed him to investigate the matter.
On the textbook award to ZAS, Gopeesingh said ZAS had not worked for the EFCL in the past.
He said it was a reputable company and had tendered for work under the PNM. He said ZAS tendered on 100 per cent of the items so its price would be higher than other tenders who submitted partial bids. He said the EFCL would consider a 100 per cent bid preferentially.
PricewaterhouseCoopers has been already contracted to do audits into the EFCL.
“This is the side from the EFCL, the investigations are going on, the audit is going on.”
