Thursday, December 10 2009

THE Uff Commission of Inquiry came to a close yesterday, bringing to an end, hearings which grabbed the attention of the population over the past year with the emergence of questions of alleged top-level corruption and mismanagement at Udecott as well as its crucial role in the politics of the ruling PNM administration.

“On a personal note it has been my privilege to come to Trinidad and Tobago to chair this inquiry,” chairman Professor John Uff said at the end of yesterday’s proceedings at 4 pm.

The last day of the inquiry saw Works and Transport Minister Colm Imbert give evidence, featured the cross-examination of former Housing Development Corporation managing director Noel Garcia and also saw contractors and construction experts quizzed, all in relation to the controversial Cleaver Heights housing project.

That project, which was added on to the inquiry proceedings at the last minute at the recommendation of Cabinet, dominated the hearings for the last three days. This morning, parties to the proceedings are to receive written instruction from the commissioners over the time-line for the submission of written closing submissions. Yesterday’s proceedings began with the arrival of a fiery Imbert. “I am very angry I was told to come for 9 am,” Imbert told attorney for Attorney General John Jeremie Michael Quamina, at about 9.15 am.

He was made to wait until just shy of 12 noon to give evidence as his own attorney, Frank Solomon SC, engaged in a protracted cross-examination of Garcia over Cleaver Heights. Bruce Farley, the Ag Chief Design Engineer of the Ministry of Works and Transport, testified as an expert on behalf of Imbert in relation to the Cleaver Heights project.