By Faith Edwards

PRIME Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has requested a full audit into several road projects across the country.

Speaking during the post-Cabinet Media Briefing at the Red House on Thursday, Persad-Bissessar said, “It’s a shame that billions of dollars, over $10 million, have been spent and we can hardly find a good road in the country, flooding remains rampant.”

She said she has instructed the Minister of Works and Infrastructure Jearlean John to obtain and audit the test results for works done on the Manzanilla Road, the Cumuto Highway extension, the Point Fortin Highway from Otaheite to La Brea, the Chaguanas Highway widening, and the new O’Meara Road.

“These roads are failing or have already failed,” she declared.

Persad-Bissessar also called for an update on staffing and project statuses in key state infrastructure arms including the Highways Division, the PURE Unit, NIDCO, and the Drainage Division. She said special attention has to be paid to PURE, NIDCO, and the Drainage Division, all of which have reportedly spent billions with little visible improvement.

She also raised concerns about the Bridgemans Services Group and its vessel, the Cabo Star. Despite public scandals, she said the vessel is still operating and will undergo dry-docking in July. “We have agreed on alternative arrangements during that two-week period in June, but in the meantime, we need more information,” she added.

When asked whether contractors responsible for poor work would be penalised, Persad-Bissessar pointed to existing laws.

“There is a law, a defect period within which the contractor, if the contractor has failed that, the contractor is obligated in law to remedy those effects on his money, they’ll have to pay the money. So there is a provision in the law and most of those that were done later that I mentioned were recently done, we are still within the defects period,” she said.