'Deep Throat' reveals airport cover-up

By Lara Picford-Gordon

Emile Elias yesterday told the Piarco Airport Inquiry of information he received from someone he identified only as "Deep Throat" who told him that an attempt was made to suppress the true evaluation of contracts, which resulted in Ish Galbaransingh's-led consortium NYC getting higher rating than other bidders.

Elias said that Deep Throat said that a Joint Team comprising officials from the Ministry of Works and Finance conducted an evaluation of the contracts for the pre-qualification of tenders over the Carnival weekend in 1997. According to the assessment Needham/Ballast and Kier finished first and second with Northern Construction Ltd/York/Coosals (NYC) finishing fifth.

Giving his second day of testimony into the Commission of Inquiry into the Piarco Airport Terminal Project, former President of the Contractors Association Emile Elias said an anonymous source which he dubbed 'Deep Throat' contacted him on April 14 and disclosed that former Director of the Airport Alison Williams hid the report of the Joint Team and former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works Justin Paul along with former Works Minister Sadiq Baksh tried to make NYC "look good". The taped conversation between Elias and Deep Throat was played for the Commissioners and entered into evidence.

Deep Throat said the information in the report was being hidden from the Deyalsingh Commission (1997). The Committee headed by retired Justice Lennox Deyalsingh was appointed by Cabinet in March 1997 to investigate reported inconsistencies in the awarding of contracts valued at $110 million to NYC Consortium, of which Ish Galbaransigh's Northern Construction was a member.

Elias said that Deep Throat named the members of the Joint Team as Dr Furlonge, Ms Boodram, Faizal Razack, Peter Samuel and Rabindranath Jogie. Deep Throat said the team was put together after the Project Pride team was fired. They began work on Carnival Thursday and worked through the weekend.

He said on the Thursday after Carnival, former Airports Authority Chairman Ameer Edoo received a telephone call (which he presumed was from Baksh) informing that the services of the Team was no longer needed.

Deep Throat said Edoo kept the assessment. Deep Throat said PS Paul and Baksh were suppressing the report and he had informed one person on the Team who was involved in the Deyalsingh Inquiry. He told Elias to ask Edoo before the Commission about the assessment. Elias told the Commission that he had kept the tape confidential for five years and eight months.

Elias said when Edoo was asked about it he denied it, but when questioned further admitted a report did exist. Justice Deyalsingh ordered that Edoo produce the document.

Referring to the document, the Joint Team found that NYC's experience in construction was significantly lower than Kier. While NYC was involved in the construction of Grafton Beach Resort and Grand Courland in Tobago, Kier had built several airports and Royal Bank tower and Nealco Properties Holding. The Joint Team said from these comparisons it was expected that Kier would be rated higher.

It was also reported that the prime candidate for Project Manager was an employee of Calmaquip while the other two candidates for key positions were not employees of the NYC.

JEARLEAN WILL HAVE HER DAY...

"Ms Jearlean John have patience, we will send for you in due course so that you can clear your name," Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry on the Piarco Airport Project, retired Chief Justice Clinton Bernard advised the former Transport Minister.

He was responding to statements made by John in an article in the Express newspaper titled: ‘Jearlean lashes out at Clinton Bernard.’

While he admitted to overlooking, and dismissing previous statements made by John, Bernard said he had a duty to respond to the "huge article" and set the record straight. He said John could rant and rave but he would not be drawn into the trap of responding "in like" as he did not want to be accused of bias.

He said the evidence being given was prima facie and John would get her opportunity to address the Commission with her lawyer. The Commission is willing to supply her with a lawyer if requested.

"Ms John the allegations made against you, we are not saying that they are true. We are saying this is evidence given by experts against you."

Outlining evidence given by witnesses, Bernard said witnesses testified that John went against the advice of the experts and "insisted on certain things, providing the fittings and furniture at the taxpayers expense, and one item for which, namely a kitchen sink, the taxpayers had to pay $12,000."

He referred to witnesses stating that John was advised that the VIP room could not be completed in time for the opening of the airport terminal on May 25 1998 and that John became very annoyed and used obscenities.