UNC staying out of Patriotic matter
Pointe-a-Pierre MP David Lee. –
THE Opposition UNC is staying far away from a matter in which the Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU)-owned Patriotic Services Co Ltd allegedly submitted a fake document submitted in its unsuccessful bid to acquire the former Petrotrin refinery in Pointe-a-Pierre.
Pointe-a-Pierre MP David Lee made the UNC’s position on this matter clear at a news conference at the party’s headquarters in Chaguanas on October 6.
He said, “That is a matter between Patriotic Technologies and the evaluation committee and even (Energy) Minister Stuart Young.”
Lee added, “We have nothing to do with that deal.”
He also said the UNC played no part in any other bid which may have been made any other entity for the refinery.
“We leave that between Patriotic and the government to sort it out.”
Lee refused to be drawn into speculation offered by one reporter that the UNC should say something about two statements issued by Patriotic on this matter which said nothing about an alleged US$1.5 billion payment as part of its bid for the refinery.
He said, “It is not our view to come out on anything.”
Lee repeated this matter was not a concern for the UNC.
In the House of Representatives on October 4, Young produced what he claimed to be a fake document was submitted by Patriotic as part of its second bid to acquire the refinery.
He said the document, which claimed to show Patriotic submitted a payment of US$1.5 billion to a local bank as proof that it had the financial capability to acquire and run the refinery, seemed to be fraudulent.
On October 5 and 6, Young rejected statements from Patriotic which respectively claimed his comments in the House were misleading and the company said it was committed to transparency and fair processes.