Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Khadijah Ameen has warned that Government will not tolerate corruption in Trinidad and Tobago’s construction approval process, saying that some public officers have manipulated the system for “personal gain.”
Speaking during debate on legislation aimed at removing the County Medical Officer of Health from the routine construction permitting process, Minister Ameen said corruption had become embedded in parts of the system.
She claimed that some individuals had abused the approvals process, profiting from delays and inefficiencies faced by citizens seeking building approvals.
“I am aware that over time there have been people who have been manipulating the system for personal gain and we will not tolerate it, we will not. There are people who live on what clearly is more than a public servant salary and over the years they have manipulated the system to the point where it is factored in as a cost for doing business.”
Minister Ameen described the practice as unfair, unjust and illegal, warning that Government would not condone any continuation of such conduct.
“I’m putting out this warning that whatever would have been happening in the past this government will not condone that type of behaviour. I also want to encourage members of the public that if where you are aware of people who are manipulating the system where they are trying to extort you get bribes out of you, report it to the police and we must take a serious approach as a society to prevent that from happening.”