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By
Peter Balroop
FINANCE Minister Karen Nunez-Tesheira was given a copy of
a letter during Friday’s sitting of the Lower House,
in which surveyor Ganeshdath Ramcharitar wrote to her predecessor,
Senator Conrad Enill, claiming Estate Business Management
Development Corporation (EMBDC) executive chairman Uthara
Rao demanded a kickback from him of Can$10,000.
Yesterday an angry Rao, contacted at his Valsayn home, said
it was a “totally concocted story” on Ramcharitar's
part, and he could swear he never asked for a bribe from
him.
Ramcharitar had been hired by EMBDC, but fell down on his
contract, Rao insisted, and was now trying to get back at
the corporation for trying to discipline him.
UNC Alliance Caroni East MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh urged Nunez-Tesheira
to investigate the claim by Ramcharitar. Gopeesingh also,
under cover of parliamentary privilege, accused Udecott
executive chairman Calder Hart and University of T&T
(UTT) President Dr Ken Julien of improper financial practices
that warranted forensic investigation.
A copy of Ramcharitar’s letter obtained by the Sunday
Guardian is dated August 10, 2007, and addressed to Enill.
The letter states Enill was contacted on August 7 by telephone,
and this was a follow-up, confirming the information in
writing.
Ramcharitar, a licensed land surveyor, said he was contracted
by the EMBDC to survey 22 sites of Caroni lands in central
Trinidad.
Enill was informed that plans for 11 sites were submitted
to the Director of Surveys, and on April 27 two invoices
were submitted to the EMBDC for interim payment of 50 per
cent of Ramcharitar’s work.
For seven sites, Ramcharitar had drawn up 1,125 lots and
the EMBDC was billed $726,250.
Ramcharitar said he got two cheques totally $388,125 on
May 11, 2007, from Rao, “who requested the sum of $10,000
Canadian from me and he also informed me that he was leaving
for Canada the following weekend...”
Rao, according to the letter, was told it was not feasible
for Ramcharitar to meet his request, and since then Rao
had written him stating he had failed to complete his surveying
commitments.
Further payment on the outstanding 50 per cent of the invoice
also was refused, and Ramcharitar was not allowed to continue
doing surveying work for EMBDC.
Enill also was told another surveying firm was hired.
He was asked to use his office to resolve the matter in
an amicable way, and also arrange for outstanding money
to be paid to Ramcharitar.
On Friday, Gopeesingh told the House that Enill had referred
the issue to Raymond Tim Kee, a fellow EMBDC board member.
Fictitious says Rao
When contacted yesterday, Rao said on January 26, 2007,
Ramcharitar was given a contract to lot out the 22 sites
by a June 30, six-month deadline.
Despite repeated reminders during the period, via meetings
and letters, he had not fulfilled his obligations.
Rao said he did not deal personally with Ramcharitar but
his CEO, Anup Jaimungalsingh, did. He said he was sure all
financial claims made by Ramcharitar, based on the contract,
had been fully paid.
“His
claim in the letter is something erroneous, something fictitious,”
Rao stressed.
“Anybody
can write anything on anybody...He did not fulfil his contract.
I will talk to her,” said Rao, when told that Nunez-Tesheira
had been asked to investigate the bribe claim.
“It
is his word against mine. My God, Jesus Christ, I am very
disturbed. I will clear up this matter,” Rao added.
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