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Press statement issued by former UDeCOTT Director Brian Lewis

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On 17th July 2011 the Trinidad Express published headlines and an article which contained inaccurate and misleading allegations about the circumstances surrounding my resignation from the Board of Directors of UDeCOTT.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Thursday August 4, 2011 - On 17th July 2011 the Trinidad Express published headlines and an article which contained inaccurate and misleading allegations about the circumstances surrounding my resignation from the Board of Directors of UDeCOTT.

This matter is now in the hands of my Attorneys-at- Law who have issued a Pre-Action Letter to the Trinidad Express demanding, amongst other things, an apology and retraction.

In the meantime, I continue to be taken aback by the rush to judgment, and the attacks on my integrity, in the absence of all the facts.

 I therefore set out the facts:

  • I was appointed to the Board of Directors of UDeCOTT on 26 January 2011
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  • At the time of my appointment, I was also a Director on the Board of Acla:Works Limited, an architectural and interior design company (“Acla”), and several other companies and institutions.
  • I have always taken precautions to guard against any potential conflict of interest which may arise as a result of my directorships on any of these companies.
  • During my tenure as a director of UDeCOTT,  it came to my attention that Acla was invited to be part of a design build consortium to which submitted a bid to UDeCOTT for a contract for the outfitting of Tower D on the Waterfront in Port of Spain to make way for Parliament.
  • I played no part in the preparation or submission of Acla’s bid,
  • Upon becoming aware that the Tenders Committee (on which I sit) would be dealing with the bid for the contract, I immediately declined to attend to attend the meeting’s at which the bids were being discussed.
  • I played no part in the tendering processor the award of the contract.
  • Notwithstanding having been advised that there was no legal or ethical impediment to Acla submitting tenders and being considered by UDeCOTT for the contract and for future projects, I decided to submit my resignation from the Board of UDeCOTT.
  • My resignation was voluntary and for personal reasons.

Finally, I take this opportunity to record my appreciation to be of service at UDeCOTT and to affirm my continued commitment to the principles of transparency, accountability and integrity.

Brian Lewis

  • Registered Architect of Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados
  • Fellow of the Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Architects
  • Full Member of the Barbados Institute of Architects
  • Associate Member of the American Institute of Architects
  • International Affiliate of Royal Institute of British Architects
  • AA Dip. Cert. Trop. AA London

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