OPR probes $100M LandmarkTT’s housing contract

The Office of Procurement Regulation (OPR) is investigating serious concerns over newly formed state enterprise LandmarkTT Properties Limited’s handling of the procurement process for the $100 million Allamby Residential Development project in Corinth, San Fernando.

Incorporated just this year, LandmarkTT serves as a special-purpose vehicle under the Ministry of Land and Legal Affairs designed to facilitate a new public-private partnership (PPP) model for unsubsidised, high-quality housing.

In a letter dated April 20 to the state company, the OPR said it received formal complaints alleging that LandmarkTT used a selective tendering process instead of open bidding, potentially breaching the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act.

Guardian Media understands the complaint was lodged by the People’s National Movement (PNM).

The regulator said it had been informed that LandmarkTT “applied a selective tendering process, contra the objects” of the act in relation to the Allamby Residential Development.

The OPR also warned that given the reported TT$100 million value of the contract, “the risk of negative financial and economic impact is elevated, particularly in high risk/high value procurement proceedings, where value for money is not realised.”

In the correspondence addressed to LandmarkTT CEO Nischall Shane Poona, the OPR reminded the company that the law mandates public bodies to conduct procurement in accordance with the act and warned that “any procurement contract or agreement that is not entered into in accordance with this act shall be void and illegal.”

The regulator stressed that open bidding is the required procurement method unless there is proper justification to use another approach.

“Accordingly, where a selective procurement process is applied, LandmarkTT is required to justify same in accordance with the public procurement legal and regulatory framework,” the letter stated.

The OPR further raised concerns over transparency requirements, stating it was unable to locate any electronic publication of the contract award as required under Section 36(1) of the act.

It reminded that the law requires public bodies to “promptly publish” notices of contract awards, including the contractor’s name, contract price, works to be carried out and the award date.

In the letter, the OPR directed LandmarkTT to provide, within seven working days, a copy of the procurement records for the Allamby project, a list of all contract awards and framework agreements from February 2026 to present, details of its compliance with publication requirements and explanations for any failure to promptly publish notices of award.

The regulator also warned LandmarkTT that under the act, “a public body or person who, without reasonable justification, fails to comply with a direction issued under this Act commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of one hundred thousand dollars.”

Yesterday, Guardian Media asked the OPR for an update on the matter. The regulator responded, “The public body in question has complied with the directive within the stipulated deadline. This matter is presently under review by the OPR, and as such, no further comments will be made to ensure the integrity of the OPR’s review process.”

Asked if a suspension order was issued for the Allamby project, the OPR said, “No such application was filed on this matter.”

When Guardian Media visited the site Allamby project yesterday, there was heavy construction ongoing in the large fenced-off area. While there were workers at the site, Guardian Media was unable to ascertain the contractor they were working for.

Several attempts to contact line minister Saddam Hosein and LandmarkTT CEO Poona yesterday were unsuccessful.

LandmarkTT does not yet have a fully functional website. Currently, the webpage has a countdown timer to the launch of the full website. Yesterday, it said it was 24 days away.

On March 19 at a post-Cabinet news briefing, Hosein underscored the importance of LandmarkTT complying with the OPR.

Guardian Media asked then about the process being used to choose developers for the allocation of state lands.

Hosein promptly responded, “So the process is always guided by the OPR. We can’t go behind the OPR. So that is what we have to do.”

Robinson-Regis:

Why has work not stopped?

Opposition MP Camille Robinson-Regis is questioning why the $100 million Allamby Residential Development project has not been halted.

In a statement yesterday, Robinson-Regis said while she welcomed the OPR’s intervention, she was concerned that no stop order or suspension had been issued despite what she described as serious allegations involving the procurement exercise.

She also claimed that work on the project site appeared to be continuing “both day and night” and questioned, “Is it possible that the contractor is trying to do preliminary work in order for payment to be made even if this contract is eventually halted by the OPR?”

The former housing minister added, “LandmarkTT’s origins are questionable from inception, and it seems as though they intend to proceed along this questionable path throughout their existence.

“The people of Trinidad and Tobago deserve full transparency and assurance that public procurement is being conducted lawfully, fairly and in the best interest of taxpayers.”

Robinson-Regis said another complaint has been filed by attorney and former minister of mousing Randall Mitchell on behalf of activist Wendell Eversley, requesting that the work be halted.

She has previously accused the administration of using the company to allow “rich friends and financiers” to access prime state lands at peppercorn rates (nominal or extremely low costs) under the guise of public-private partnerships.

In April, the OPR halted the award of $3.4 billion in housing contracts to 11 companies following allegations of procurement irregularities and a lack of transparency.

This regulatory intervention, triggered by complaints from the Joint Consultative Council (JCC) and opposition figures, is pending a comprehensive review to ensure compliance with the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act.