By Clint Chan Tack Monday, September 21 2009

PEOPLE’S National Movement (PNM) Diego Martin West MP Dr Keith Rowley yesterday said legal actions by the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (Udecott) to prevent any further proceedings of the Uff Commission of Inquiry confirm his longstanding belief that Udecott is behaving like “a rogue enterprise” in TT.

“This latest outrage is something for the Government to attend to,” Rowley told Newsday. Prime Minister Patrick Manning fired Rowley as Trade and Industry Minister last April after Rowley expressed concerns about a lack of Cabinet oversight on Udecott’s operations. Explaining that Udecott is a state enterprise which reports directly to a Cabinet minister, Rowley declared that Udecott cannot act in defiance of the Government.

He said Udecott’s actions were particularly disturbing in the wake of Attorney General John Jeremie’s statement in Parliament on September 7 that the inquiry’s proceedings would be gazetted and legislation to validate the proceedings will be coming to Parliament soon.

Rowley said Udecott should be “brought to heel” by the Government which runs the risk of being perceived by the population of being “in cahoots” with Udecott. Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday yesterday said Udecott’s actions confirm his views that “nothing will come out of the inquiry.” Congress of the People (COP) leader Winston Dookeran described Udecott’s legal moves as “scandalous”.