2 weeks ago
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Jesse Ramdeo
Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath says a criminal investigation will be launched into the previous administration’s handling of hundreds of CEPEP contracts, alleging that more than 300 were unlawfully extended without Cabinet approval ahead of the last general election.
Speaking at a UNC political meeting in Couva South on Monday night, Padarath accused former Attorney General and PNM MP Faris Al-Rawi of being directly linked to the matter, telling him to “move, Satan, move” and adding, “put it in your pipe and smoke it.”
Padarath revealed that the Registrar Marshal of the Court has ordered documents on the extensions to be provided to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
“It means that the fraud perpetrated by CEPEP… will now be the subject of a criminal investigation,” he told party supporters.
The Minister claimed that former CEPEP chairman Joel Edwards submitted a note to Cabinet seeking ratification for contract extensions, falsely stating that they had been approved.
He said company records show no such approval.
According to Padarath, former CEO Keith Eddy has provided “clear evidence” that Edwards claimed Cabinet had approved the move based on direct instructions from Al-Rawi.
Edwards has since said the statement was an error and that a revised note, which was supposed to be circulated, cannot now be found.
Padarath further alleged that Al-Rawi has been relying on a 2017 Cabinet note to defend the extensions, but insisted that “the Cabinet minute does not reflect what he is claiming.”
He argued that the note, if applied at the time, would have resulted in more than 7,000 CEPEP workers being sent home and contracts for over 200 contractors being terminated.
The Minister said the UNC government intends to pursue legal action against members of the former CEPEP board for alleged breach of fiduciary duty — a move that could carry serious political and legal consequences for the Opposition.
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