Bird Still Wants WPP Commission of Inquiry

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Friday, 03 August 2012 02:30

By caribarena news

Antigua St. John's - The appointment of three government ministers to a cabinet sub-committee to consider the opposition party’s request for an inquiry into the controversial Wadadli Power Plant (WPP) contract is insulting to the people of Antigua & Barbuda.

The action by Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer also highlights a clear conflict of interest involving the ministers and the matter under review.

This is the stance of Opposition Leader Lester Bird who said that while the decision of the committee to eventually allow a tour of the facility was a commendable first step, it does not by any stretch of the imagination come anywhere close to the Commission of Inquiry that was initially requested.

Bird said the Antigua Labour Party (ALP) - or at least he himself - still stands firm in the position that nothing shy of a Commission of Inquiry and the release of the necessary documents governing the WPP deal would suffice in providing the necessary insight into determining whether or not the engines are new, or if Antigua & Barbuda got value for money.

“It's the first step that they agreed for people to go in and see the plant, but that is not the only matter. We need to get all the necessary documents,” Bird said.

He mulled over the idea of whether the government had any intentions of supplying such documents, or if the newly appointed Information Commissioner Alister Thomas would be inclined to hand them over.

“Will they supply it or will we get this from the new commissioner of information which will assist in determining if the plant is new?” Bird asked, adding, “It's one thing to look at the plant, and it's another to get definitive documents to know if it is indeed new. I have not heard officially what the committee has done other than to say they will allow people to see the plant and answer questions.”

Bird is convinced that the outward appearance of the plant, whatever that might be at the moment of viewing, would not be sufficient in determining whether or not the generator sets are worth US$47 million.

“The Commission of Inquiry is still required and anything less would not be accepted,” the ALP leader insisted.

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