Balisier bombshell

Explain your wealth.

High Court Judge Margaret Mohammed has granted an Order to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) to compel the People’s National Movement (PNM) to explain its funding for the multimillion-dollar construction of its Balisier House, Port of Spain, headquarters.

The application names the trustees of the PNM as the first respondent; and the PNM, represented by its general secretary, as the second respondent.

Note: Ask the secretary how he got millions in contracts. Companies associated with People's National Movement (PNM) General Secretary Foster Cummings and his family businesses received over $100 million in state contracts.

His rass is next.

The application alleges there are reasonable grounds to suspect that:

1. the total wealth of the respondents exceeds the value of their lawfully obtained wealth;

2. the total wealth of the respondents exceeds $500,000;

3. the property in question is owned by the respondents or is under their effective control; and

4. the property was obtained through the commission of a specified offence.

The police asked the court to compel the PNM and its trustees to file declarations and answer questions relating to their assets and wealth.

Note : Interesting days lies ahead.

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‘Corrupt arrangements’

Accompanying the application was a 21-page affidavit from ASP Phillip who alleged that Balisier House complex may have been financed, in part, through corrupt arrangements involving government contractors who allegedly received favorable treatment in the award of State contracts during the PNM’s decade in office. According to Phillip, the report estimates that the total construction cost of the New Building, upon completion, will be approximately $118.4 million, while the value of work already completed is estimated at approximately $73.272 million.

Phillip stated that police were unaware of any legitimate source of income available to the PNM that could finance a project of that magnitude.

He noted that construction ceased after the PNM lost the April 28, 2025, general election.

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Phillip’s affidavits names several contractors.

It alleges Woodgreen Construction Services Ltd initially submitted a bid of approximately $68.3 million for the main construction contract but later agreed to reduce the price to approximately $59 million, representing a reduction of around $9 million.

Phillip alleged the reduced pricing may have been linked to favourable treatment in future State contracts.

He pointed to subsequent HDC contracts awarded to Woodgreen and related entities, including a $22 million housing contract in San Fernando in 2019 . Court documents indicating that while the market lease value of the prime San Fernando acreage was closer to $50 million, the state framework had cleared it for development under an equivalent value of $22 million. Citrus Close housing development contract awarded in 2023. The total contract value awarded by the HDC for the construction of the Citrus Close housing development is TT $191 million

@sgtdjones

Long sordid history of PNM going way back to Prevatt and O'Halloran.

This aint go stop until some of them make serious jail.

Look its going to be Jerremy all over de balisier.

@Narper

Started under Eric Williams

He knows all their secrets Narps...😳

@Narper

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Interesting

“I have overnight seen, heard and read statements that have been made by former prime minister Dr Rowley that have given me reason to believe that information forming part of this investigation has been leaked,” he stated.

He warned this could undermine the investigation and provide persons with notice of these proceedings that can cause these persons to take steps to undermine the investigation.

Sounds like more smoke than fire

........Sodden

Yawn 😫

@Narper

The only outcome from this is the widening of the political divide in Trinidad and Tobago. A government, placed in power to manage, and all they are consumed with is planting the seeds of hate and racism. The sad thing is, none of them or their supporters are smart enough to warn them of long term dangerous consequences of their actions. In power, they are blind. What they are doing is worst than the violent criminals they claim that they are so concerned with. They are destroying their country.

One would believe that the UNC would have been motivated to raise funds and build their own party headquarters. This is a good thing to aspire to, but, instead, they can't help but try to create confusion and bacchanal. And, at the fore of those negatives, are a group of house slaves. They always look for the dumbest to place at the helm, all in an effort to mask their dim, racist intent.

Penny: PNM has nothing to hide

OPPOSITION Leader Pennelope Beckles said yesterday the PNM had “nothing to hide” and she vowed to fight against any attempt by the UNC Government to vilify the party. Beckles’ comments follow Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s statement on Sunday that the PNM should produce evidence before the police and the Judiciary — both independent institutions — to prove the “lawful” construction of its Balisier House headquarters in Port of Spain. High Court judge Margaret Mohammed last Friday granted an Order to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) to compel the PNM to explain its funding for the multimillion-dollar construction of Balisier House.

The police have been investigating the building of Balisier House and, on Friday, Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro, who appointed acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Ramdath Phillip to lead the investigation, authorized him to make an application in the High Court for a Preliminary Unexplained Wealth Order, in accordance with Section 58(1) of the Civil Asset Recovery and Recovery and Management and Unexplained Wealth Act, 2019.

“Balisier House is not merely a building; it represents the soul of the PNM and the blood, sweat, and tears of generations of citizens who have contributed to this movement,” Beckles said.

Note: If as you stated, explain where the money came for a 100 million dollar building that after the election, work stopped. It is so simple.

Why did the police have to go to Court to force your party to show the financing of that building?