(Trinidad Express) A man wearing a mask claimed Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley was privy to the details of the now cancelled US$71.7 million contract between the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) and Chinese construction company Gezhouba Group International Engineering Co Ltd (CGGC).
“The Phantom” was one of two dozen speakers at a news conference hosted by the National Trade Union Centre (Natuc) yesterday, at the Public Services Association (PSA) office on Abercromby Street, Port of Spain.
He chose to wear a mask for fear of being charged with sedition.
“The Phantom” said the contract was signed in the presence of Housing Minister Edmund Dillon on May 17, 2019,
He claimed there was another contract before this that was signed on July 13, 2018 — the framework agreement which was “loaded” with details and spoke to the exemptions the Chinese company would have received.
“The Phantom” said that in July 2018, Rowley was the substantive Housing Minister as he held the ministry’s portfolio himself on April 9, 2018.
He said Rowley appointed Dillon as Housing Minister on August 6.
“The Phantom” claimed that Rowley met with several Chinese executives, including officials of CGGC, during his visit to China and was privy to information about the HDC project.
He claimed Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi was also present this year when the contract was signed and would therefore be privy to the details as the Prime Minister’s legal adviser.
