By Sue-Ann Wayow
PRIME Minister Dr Keith Rowley is not fazed by the purchase of 13 acres of land by the Tobago House of Assembly (THA).
He said under the THA law, it was within their right to do so.
Dr Rowley was answering a question asked by Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal in Parliament on Tuesday.
Dr Moonilal asked, “In light of revelations regarding the former THA Administration’s decision to purchase 13 acres of land from the Warner Group of Companies at the price of $43 million dollars, purportedly for the construction of a secondary school, will the Prime Minister advise the House whether he intends to order an independent probe into the purchase of the property?”
Dr Rowley responded, “I am not aware of any such transaction by the Tobago House of Assembly but if it is that there is any basis for the statement, the THA did in fact buy a piece of land in Tobago, as far as I am aware, the THA has full authority under law to purchase land.”
He has no information on price of land and said he was aware that the Scarborough Secondary School needed to be relocated and the THA was searching for an appropriate site.
Dr Moonilal’s point was that the land was overpriced and should have instead cost around $13 million and alleged that part of that money was part of a lucrative deduction in the purchase of apartments in Tobago.
When asked about that, Dr Rowley told Dr Moonilal, “I know not of which you speak.”
