Senior Reporter
Public Utilities Minister Barry Padarath says several matters arising from forensic investigations into state entities will be referred to the Office of the Attorney General.
Contributing to the debate on the Appropriation (Financial Year 2027) Bill, 2026, in the House of Representatives yesterday, Padarath levelled allegations of financial irregularities, questionable procurement practices and weak corporate oversight at state agencies under the previous People’s National Movement (PNM) administration.
He identified matters involving the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), the National Maintenance Training and Security Company Limited (MTS) and Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT), insisting his disclosures were supported by forensic and investigative reports.
“I didn’t tell you hearsay. I didn’t tell you move along. I didn’t tell you gossip,” Padarath said.
“What I’ve told you is EY forensic report, investigative reports commissioned by the board and management of these companies.”
Padarath first cited an Ernst & Young review of transactions involving Flexible Enterprises Limited and WASA between 2019 and 2024.
According to the minister, the report identified approximately $11.4 million in irregularities and 450 unsupported invoices valued at $30.1 million.
He noted that the company was registered in the constituency of Arouca/Lopinot, formerly represented by ex-public utilities minister Marvin Gonzales, and said company registry records raised additional questions about the transactions.
Reading from the report, he said major issues included unsupported invoices, water trucking irregularities and heavy equipment irregularities.
He further alleged that Ernst & Young identified systemic deficiencies in governance and operational controls at WASA, including unclear mandates, inconsistent oversight, poor record management, missing documents and incomplete procurement files.
Padarath argued that the findings warranted further scrutiny and challenged Opposition criticism of increased spending on water trucking, saying the forensic review raised serious questions about arrangements made under the previous administration.
Referring to the unsupported invoices, he told Parliament, “$30.1 million has been cited by Ernst & Young.”
He later confirmed the WASA matter had been referred to the Attorney General.
“WASA has now gone to the Attorney General,” he said.
Gonzales responds
During his contribution to the budget debate on Saturday, former public utilities minister Gonzales called for a criminal investigation into what he described as a water trucking racket at WASA.
Gonzales questioned an almost $30 million increase in WASA’s allocation for water trucking services and raised concerns about contractors allegedly being paid twice to transport water through some of the authority’s tank farms.
At a media briefing yesterday, Gonzales pushed back against Padarath’s claims, noting that the Ernst & Young report was commissioned during his tenure as minister.
“I want to tell the Minister of Public Utilities, do not allow people at WASA to make him make a public fool of himself,” Gonzales said.
“He has a passion to be scandalous and be scandalous for no reason. He came and made a public fool of himself. He is such a disgrace to the Parliament. He struggles to rise and he struggles to maintain.”
Padarath responded that the increase in water trucking expenditure was necessary to service rural communities while tank farms were being developed and connected to the network.
“Because they are in rural areas, far removed from everything, they have nothing to connect it to because you did not invest in any connections. Therefore, we had to increase water trucking to get the water,” he said.
Padarath also revisited a water connection granted to Nutrimix, saying a valuation report estimated the cost at approximately $530,000, but the company was ultimately charged just over $2,000.
He said the matter was already under investigation by the Integrity Commission but said further action was being taken.
“I have asked the permanent secretary to look into the files,” Padarath said.
He added: “Integrity Commission investigation is not enough. This file will now be going to the Anti-Corruption Investigation Bureau.”
Turning to MTS, Padarath cited an interim forensic report into school repair and refurbishment projects between 2019 and 2026.
He said investigators identified suspected bid manipulation, connected contractors, unauthorised contract approvals and questionable sole-source consultancy arrangements.
According to the minister, the report examined contractor payments exceeding $1 billion and highlighted six companies whose contracts warranted scrutiny.
The payments cited included:
• $29.6 million to One In All Supplies and General Construction Ltd
• $24.75 million to ShoreServe Ltd
• $9 million to Coastal Transport and Construction Ltd
• $5.1 million to Clydon Enterprises Ltd
• Approximately $3.96 million to PECAL Services Ltd
• $1.63 million to Chase Gas Ltd
Padarath also addressed TSTT’s acquisition of Amplia Communications for $215 million.
He said a forensic accounting report found no valuation was conducted to determine the company’s worth before the purchase.
The minister added, “When that report is laid, when that report is finalised, that too will go to the Office of the Attorney General.” Padarath said.
He said Government was committed to reviewing the matters and pursuing any appropriate legal or administrative action arising from the investigations.
