FINANCE Minister Colm Imbert has admitted to significant cost overruns at the ANR Robinson Airport project, with current expenses nearing TT$118 million (US$17.5 million), far exceeding the TT$16.9 million (US$2.5 million) he initially stated.
This revelation follows the leak of a Cabinet note detailing Imbert’s request for additional project funding, prompting criticism from Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
She accused the government of mismanagement and called for Imbert’s resignation, labelling the discrepancies as either incompetence or deceit.
Persad-Bissessar also called for the resignation of Imbert and NIDCO chariman Herbert George.
Imbert addressed the issue in a second media conference on Friday, clarifying that his original figures, he had stated at the post-Cabinet news conference on Thursday, only covered what was confirmed at the time.
He stated that the additional costs stemmed from a US$15 million advance payment to China Railway Construction (CRCCCL) for pending claims, as recommended by NIDCO.
The project, delayed by Covid-19 and land acquisition issues, has faced further setbacks due to design concerns. IT was supposed to be completed last year.
Imbert defended the decision not to rehire CEP, the initial design consultant, citing their inadequate design approval.
Despite the overruns, Imbert claimed savings in land acquisition costs, but Persad-Bissessar disputed this, alleging funds were diverted to cover excess expenses.
In a statement after Imbert’s second press conference on Friday, Persad-Bissessar said Imbert had “absolutely discredited himself,” saying he was either “an incompetent, or a liar.”
She said, “It seems that he had amnesia at Thursday’s presser but regained his memory by 1 pm on Friday.
“What is also concerning is that every member of the Cabinet must have known about these massive cost overruns and design issues, but they all remained quiet and assisted in covering it up from the public.”
Persad-Bissessar said that Imbert was misleading the public about savings on land acquisition, noting that funds from a $300 million loan were diverted to cover cost overruns.
She said, “Only last month he told the media that the project was on budget; this has now been exposed as a lie. He must be removed as chairman of NIDCO.”
