By Chantalé Fletcher
OPPOSITION Member of Parliament Dr Roodal Moonilal is calling on National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds to confirm the authenticity of a letter regarding the details which surrounded an alleged settlement agreement with Vertical Aviation.
Speaking at the party’s virtual report on Monday evening, Dr Moonilal made reference to a letter addressed to a New York Court on June 21, 2021 which stated that an agreement was reached between Trinidad and Tobago and Vertical Aviation to return the SIKORSKY S76 D helicopter to Canada by August 22, 2021.
In addition, the MP stated that the letter revealed that, “If the government refused and does not ship the helicopter to its supplier, the matter stays in in the New York Court.”
Dr Moonilal demanded to know the terms and conditions of the settlement agreement.
“How much money do we have to pay? When do we have to pay and what are the penalties for not abiding by this new settlement?” he asked.
He said the government agreed to pay the settlement by paying the supplier of the helicopter a sum of US$6.4 million which was estimated to be TT$45 million .
Moonilal said, “So imagine a helicopter parked up for six years doing nothing, you are settling by returning to the supplier $45 million TTD for an asset that you did not use. The taxpayer of this country has to $45 million TTD as a settlement, lawyer fees of $ 4 million, full transportation which is estimated to be $4 million, and lawyer fees which is $2 million.”
He added, “Tax payers are paying $55million for an asset that the government refused to use, while you were paying under our arrangement the same $55 million to use the chopper for five years.”
He described the government’s actions as a “colossal waste of money.”
The Oropouche East MP reminded the public that in December 2014, the People’s Partnership leased the SIKORSKY S76 D helicopter with a market value of $112,000,000 and a monthly payment $800,000 for a five-year term.
Moonilal said, “The noise level was 33% less than with choppers of that design which made it ideal for border patrols, out of the South West Peninsula and the Western Central Sea board.”
He stated, “They stopped paying the rental on the lease so the company that supplied it called Vertical Aviation took money from the security deposit for the rent.
“So, the money, we left as a security deposit went to pay rent because the government said they don’t want to pay rent.”
Prime Minister Dr Rowley had said the Opposition should be the last to raise issues about the helicopter and when Parliament resumes, a statement will be made by the relevant minister.
