$45,000 rent a ‘good deal’ for THA ...says villa owner, but London’s new home sparks controversy The Trinidad businessman who is renting his Tobago Plantations villa to Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Orville London at a cost of $45,000 a month said yesterday the THA was getting a “good deal”. Pradeep Harricharan, a manager at International Marketing in Century Drive, Trincity, said the regular cost for a one-night stay at the villa, located on 20,000 square feet of land in Lowlands, is $3,500. “You work it out…this means in one month, I can make over $90,000. But it is not every night that I would have rented it out, so the negotiated cost for a month is $45,000,” he said. This means the THA would be paying approximately $270,000 for London and his family to stay at the villa while renovations continue at the Chief Secretary’s residence in Hampden, Lowlands. But even as some in Tobago believe this figure is too exorbitant and taxpayers should not have to foot the bill for London’s temporary home, Harricharan told the Express, “I don’t know what is all the fuss about. I would make more if I rented it out every night. I am not gaining anything except perhaps the hassle of dealing with several clients over the next six months.” He added that any security measures which the Chief Secretary puts in place at the villa will go when London goes. “Mr Orville London has to have his own security, so he is putting up a temporary fence but that goes when he goes. The security booth that he is building will also come down when he leaves the property,” Harricharan added. The Tobago News, which first reported London’s new living arrangement, stated in a follow-up article that workers from the Division of Infrastructure and Public Utilities are constructing a perimeter fence around the property in Tobago Plantations, as well as a security booth, in addition to other safety measures. While the division was unable to state how much money is being spent on these improvements, as work is still ongoing, the security arrangements are an additional cost to the total rental fees. London was expected to take up residence at his temporary quarters on November 1, but security measures must be completed before he does so, the Express has learned. The condo village is part of a sprawling 36-unit development, with each comprising two apartments. There are three swimming pools on the grounds, as well as restaurants, gym, therapy rooms, hair salons, shops and a golf course. In defence of its decision to rent a villa for London, THA chief administrator Dr Ellis Burris, in an exclusive interview with the Tobago News, questioned why anyone would not want the Chief Secretary to be housed in a comfortable environment. “We have a situation where if the Chief Secretary is hosting a public official at his residence, if it rains, persons can be soaked in the rain in the porch area. This does not augur well to the post of chief secretary,” Burris said. Burris called on Tobagonians to be futuristic in their thinking. “In Trinidad, thousands of dollars are spent to house public officials while in Tobago, we must be happy with a leaking roof for the head of Tobago; should Tobagonians accept this?” He explained that citizens must be aware the Chief Secretary will not be the same in the next ten to 20 years and, therefore, whatever systems are put in place now would also benefit those to follow. He insisted everything should be done to have a suitable headquarters for the Chief Secretary of Tobago, adding the office must be respected. In an earlier article on the issue in the Express, administrative officer for property management Herbert Delancy explained the decision to enter a lease rental arrangement to provide accommodation for the Chief Secretary was above board and did not contravene the tenets of Circular No 4 issued by the Salaries Review Commission (SRC), which outlines the remuneration arrangement for holders of public offices. Delancy provided the Express with a two-page document on the matter, in which he quoted the SRC circular as clearly stating that as it applies to Chief Secretary, the “official residence (is) to be maintained by the Assembly, (and) where the official residence is not available for occupation and appropriate alternative arrangements for official accommodation are not established, an allowance of ten thousand, three hundred dollars ($10,300) per month to be payable”. This sum quoted applies only if no alternative arrangements are established. The official building suffered damage during a series of earthquakes in the early 1990s, and piecemeal repairs were carried out during the period 1994 to 2002. In spite of this, the building still lacks minimum standards benefitting this level of office, Delancy stated. The Express learned despite the fact London began living at the official residence in 2003, there were cracks in the wall, leaks, sewer problems and general disrepair. According to the THA, the director of Occupational Safety and Health and the Division of Infrastructure and Public Utilities reported major flaws, both in the design and physical condition of the building, deeming it unsafe. But some in Tobago are questioning this and have pointed out the Chief Secretary’s residence was rebuilt by former chief secretary Hochoy Charles some 13 years ago before London took up residence there. Charles could not be reached for comment. (Source: Trinidad Express)
Posted on: Thu, 14 Nov 2013 12:30:00 +0000