“Scandalous and deeply troubling.”
That’s how Minister of Public Utilities, Barry Padarath, described the recent revelations surrounding CEPEP, following a High Court judgement that referred the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The controversy points to the alleged fraudulent extension of over 300 CEPEP contracts, reportedly based on misinformation that the former Cabinet had approved the move.
In a media release on Thursday, CEPEP said this exposed the State to TT$1.4 billion in unauthorised expenditure.
Minister Padarath assured that the Government will fully support the investigation.
“So I will not want to reflect in terms of timelines with respect to the TTPS or the Judiciary except to say that the Government will do its part in terms of lending its immediate support and all of its support with respect to the investigations that will be conducted by the Anti-Corruption Bureau, the Fraud Squad, and ultimately the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.”
Minister Padarath said the Government feels “vindicated” in its position and is committed to pursuing justice.
He defended the Government’s early stance on CEPEP, and also called on former Line Minister Faris Al-Rawi to publicly clarify his role in the matter.
“When the matters regarding CEPEP first arose, there was a large hue and cry in terms of government’s position on CEPEP, but we were very clear from day one in terms of what we found, what were the challenges at the company, the advice that was proffered to us, and therefore we are seeing the fruits of the challenges that were made, but us standing strong in our conviction in terms of advancing the interests of the company and protecting the well-being of the taxpayers of Trinidad and Tobago.”