Former Tobago House of Assembly (THA) chief secretary Ancil Dennis has blasted the current administration after the High Court upheld an $18 million judgment against the THA in favour of Nazvic Contractors Limited.
Calling the situation a deliberate act of “wickedness and vindictiveness,” Dennis squarely blamed Chief Secretary Farley Augustine, accusing him of using false corruption claims to blacklist Tobago contractors while favouring companies from Trinidad.
He said, “The historical facts will demonstrate that there has been a constant and deliberate attack on Tobago contractors since this administration got into office. It started with frivolous and baseless claims of corruption and shoddy work and payment for works that were never done, none of which have been proven thus far.”
The ruling followed the THA’s failure to properly defend against a breach of contract lawsuit over unpaid fees. The court dismissed the THA’s attempt to overturn the default judgment, reinforcing the claim that the administration’s refusal to pay was unjustified.
The Government Senator said this ruling added to the “mountain” of legal defeats, referencing the three injunctions against the Friendship Road connector project—one by the EMA, another by Hearns, and the latest by the owner of Kligwin Estate—as well as the legal battle the THA lost against the former THA Tourism Secretary for the zipline project, and now this contractor.
He added, “I want to say as well that I expect there to be several other cases before the court, similar cases, and also expect that the court will rule, similarly, because there is no evidence to support the baseless claims of corruption.”
He welcomed the court ruling, saying it proved the administration’s actions could not stand up to legal scrutiny. Dennis’ next question is the legal bill the THA has incurred following another legal defeat.
“There is a mountain of legal bills with all these frivolous cases, victimising Tobagonians, and it’s the taxpayers now (who) must bear responsibility for that unnecessary expenditure.”
— Elizabeth Gonzales