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UDeCOTT is developing the structures that form part of the innovation for lasting prosperity; the development plan of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago

Contact: Corporate Communications Unit, 627-0083

December 3, 2008

There is absolutely no truth to an article which was carried in the Sunday Guardian dated November 30, 2008 titled: “Sub-office causes contention between Hart, Imbert.”

UDeCOTT Executive Chairman, Calder Hart, categorically denies that there was ever any intention to take possession of the said Ministry’s sub-office.

The facts are:

UDeCOTT cannot impose its will on any Ministry and moreover UDECOTT must have a client and Cabinet authorization before undertaking any project.

No one at UDeCOTT forwarded correspondence, either written or via e-mail to the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Works and Transport, that the maintenance division find another building to occupy in Carenage, or that UDecOTT intended to take possession of the Ministry’s sub-office at the Western Main Road, Carenage, as the story states.

Even more startling, is the portion of the story, which states: “UDeCOTT has been making threatening noises since May 2007 about the need for the Works Ministry to find alternative accommodation for the sub-office which houses maintenance division staff who do duty in St George West.” This is simply untrue.

UDeCOTT has never complained that the said sub-office which occupies a lot of land was standing in the way of a waterfront upgrade project, as the story also purports.

UDeCOTT has no knowledge of any contractor or work being commissioned on the fish market site across the Western Main Road.

What is even more disturbing is that while the story headline states that the sub-office has caused contention between the Honourable Minister of Works and Transport, Colm Imbert and the UDeCOTT Executive Chairman, Minister Imbert, outrightly declares that he was not familiar with the issue and was in no position to comment.

UDeCOTT states unequivocally that it has never made any moves, verbally, written or otherwise, to have, the occupants or the sub-office relocated and is baffled by the purpose, expressed content and accuracy of the Sunday Guardian Story.

UDeCOTT is developing the structures that form part of the innovation for lasting
prosperity; the development plan of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.