The Office of Procurement Regulation (OPR) has formally directed the Trinidad and Tobago Housing Development Corporation (HDC) to hold on the award of $3.4 billion in housing contracts.
This is pending a comprehensive review of the record of procurement proceedings, the OPR said in a release yesterday.
This follows concerns raised by PNM MP Camille Robinson-Regis and a call for an investigation into the award of these contracts from MP and former prime minister Stuart Young.
PNM MP: Camille Robinson Regis
being investigated: A Housing Development Corporation (HDC) list of companies awarded $3.4 billion in State contracts.
In a release yesterday, the OPR stated, “The Office of Procurement Regulation on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, formally directed the Trinidad and Tobago Housing Development Corporation (HDC) to hold on the award of TT$3.4 billion in housing contracts pending a comprehensive review of the record of procurement proceedings.”
It added, “This enquiry was initiated to ensure full compliance with the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act, 2015, as amended (the Act), its associated Regulations, Handbooks and Guidelines, pursuant to the Office’s powers under Sections 14(1)(a),(c) and (d) of the Act. The Office will make no further comment on this matter to ensure the integrity of its ongoing enquiry process.”
Former PM: Stuart Young
It was signed by OPR chairman and procurement regulator Beverly Khan.
An e-mailed letter of complaint was sent to the OPR on Wednesday by attorney Randall Mitchell on behalf of activist Wendell Eversley, stating Eversley was concerned about the legality, propriety and integrity of a procurement exercise involving a substantial quantum of public funds.
“My client does not bring this complaint as a supplier or contractor participating in the procurement process. Rather, this complaint is made on my client’s behalf in his capacity as a member of the public, concerned with the legality, propriety and integrity of a procurement exercise involving a substantial quantum of public funds,” Mitchell stated in the letter.
On Wednesday, the Opposition called for an investigation into the award of billions of dollars in contracts for the HDC projects.
Young asked the population to watch how its taxpayer money was being spent, alleging that most of the companies receiving billions in contracts had no experience in building houses for the HDC.
Young listed the companies which had received $3.4 billion in HDC contracts, claiming “only a few names actually have the track record and financial wherewithal” to construct public housing through the HDC.
According to Young, citing an HDC document, the contracts awarded were:
• Mootilal Ramhit and Sons Contracting Ltd—$1 billion contract
• Hakim Hosein Construction Company Ltd—$410.3 million contract
• Trinidad Pro Construction Ltd—$290 million contract
• CE Management and Services Ltd—$184 million contract
• California Stucco Company—$446 million contract
• Erin-based Keith’s Transport Services—$232 million contract
• Rampersad General Contractors and Equipment Ltd—$112 million contract
• Oilfield Hardware, Marabella—$160 million contract
• Norris Transport Enterprises Company Ltd, Princes Town—$193 million contract
• Bristol Construction, Maraval—$229 million contract
• Adam’s Construction Ltd—$201 million contract
‘Serious concerns’
In response to the Express via WhatsApp yesterday, Young said he was pleased the OPR intervened after promising to challenge it on the matter on Wednesday during a news conference at the Office of the Opposition in Port of Spain.
He said, “We highlighted serious concerns about the proposed awards of $3.4 billion in contracts at HDC on the basis of a flawed and questionable procurement process. Cartel-type behaviour and bid rigging must not be tolerated. I am pleased that the OPR has intervened as it should.”
Robinson-Regis said yesterday that procurement law was “doing its job amid serious governance concerns”.
She said in a release that the Opposition “welcomes the directive from the Office of Procurement Regulation (OPR) and its decisive intervention to halt these questionable procurement activities at the Housing Development Corporation (HDC)”.
“This is exactly why the procurement legislation was enacted under the former administration: to bring transparency, accountability, and oversight to the spending of public funds,” the Trincity/Maloney MP stated.
Robinson-Regis said the “fact that the regulator had to step in and direct the halt of billions in contracts is a clear sign of recklessness on the part of the HDC”.
Robinson-Regis further contended that the UNC Government was “mishandling public funds, having promised good governance, but now having billions in housing contracts under review.
“You can’t promote transparency and then operate in secrecy. We are happy to see the law is doing what it was designed to do.”
‘Bright light of transparency’
On Tuesday, Minister in the Ministry of Housing Phillip Alexander had defended the $3.4 billion housing contracts, and suggested former housing minister Robinson-Regis direct her questions and concerns to the HDC.
Reached for comment yesterday, he stated via WhatsApp: “As I said outside the Parliament on Tuesday, we operate under the procurement legislation, so everything has to be transparent and above board. From what I gather this is process and procedure, all of it being done in the bright light of transparency in the public space and not hidden away and covered up as it was under the PNM.
“It is my expectation knowing the Government that I am a part of that everything will be revealed to be above board. The response to the letter from the OPR rests with the HDC and I expect that they would put out a response in due course.”
HDC chairman Feeroz Khan could not be immediately reached for comment yesterday.
