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John Chadee, managing director of Innovative Roofing and Construction Solutions Ltd. –
The Managing Director of a Trinidad-based roofing and construction company that was awarded a multi-million dollar road contract in Tobago has chosen to remain mum about how his company was invited to tender for the project.
Newsday contacted John Chadee of Innovative Roofing and Construction Solutions Ltd regarding his company’s $54,781,820 contract to build the Milford Court/Pigeon Point Connector Road and was told to contact the Tobago House of Assembly (THA).
Pressed on awarding the contract, Chadee reiterated that he was not answering any questions about it, saying he was asked to tender and had been successful.
Asked about the history of his roadworks company, given that its name implied it was involved in roofing and construction, Chadee said: “Sir, did you hear what I just told you? English language hard to understand for you black journalists?”
The company will fund the entire project, according to documents seen by Newsday, and will be paid within nine months of the completion of each of the two phases.
The phases will be road and drainage works, totaling $19,781,820, and construction of two roads, worth $35 million.
THA insiders said the $19 million road and drainage project would have cost $10,818,888.80 if normal rates had been applied.
Most of the remaining $35 million of the contract will be spent on new construction to connect Pigeon Point through the mangroves to James Street, Mt St Pleasant Boulevard. The contract documents said there is already a dirt road there and upgrading it will cost $25 million.
The other $10 million is for the link road from Poui Avenue, Milford Court to the new Mt Pleasant Boulevard.
The company, based in Cedar Hill Estate Road, Princes Town, was established in 2020, according to the Ministry of Legal Affairs’ business register. On her Facebook page, there are no photos or videos of roadworks, only house construction and roofing.
The company is not registered on THA’s list of Trinidadian registered companies.
In September, Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) political leader Watson Duke and THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine sparred over alleged favoritism of Trinidadian contractors over their Tobago counterparts. Additionally, THA Minority Leader Kelvon Morris raised concerns about a contract awarded to Charlieville-based California Stucco Ltd. to build a road from Mali Mari to the Fort Dutch Pass Canal.
Newsday was also given a copy of the rates used by THA for the road works, which were significantly lower than what was given to Chadee’s company.
Under Chadee’s contract, THA agreed to pay $2,700 per ton for the supply and installation of the asphalt and bitumen mix.
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THA sources and Tobago contractors have told Newsday that the going rate is $1,400 per tonne. Trinidad-based contractors contacted by Newsday said the price can vary between $900 and $1,200 for projects in Trinidad.
Other work such as grinding and leveling, for which Chadee must be paid $400 per square meter, usually costs THA approximately $200. Hard compacting for the base, which is the underground pre-work of piling and compacting the aggregate before the road is laid, usually costs $300 per cubic meter, but that figure doubled for Chadee’s company.
Newsday called Infrastructure, Mining and Urban Development Secretary Trevor James on Wednesday. He said there was nothing untoward about THA having selective tenders as it was all part of the legal tendering process.
James said all questions about the contract and others would be answered Thursday at the THA plenary session. He said he was assured Chadee’s company has “infrastructural exposure” but could not say whether it had any history of carrying out roadworks.
“Given the budget constraints we have from Trinidad,” he said, “as an executive we’ve decided that we have to find ways to bring private money into the public space, and that’s what we’re about, and that’s what that we have. done.”
On Thursday, at the THA’s tenth plenary session, questioned by Morris, James said that three contractors were awarded various road works on the island. California Stucco Company Ltd was awarded a contract valued at $19,481,061.06 for its project. For roadworks from Argyle to Roxborough/Bloody Bay Road, Construction Services and Supplies Ltd was awarded a contract for $25,872,595.88.
Morris was advised to table his supplementary question for the next hearing as he asked on what basis Chadee’s company was selected, given the eco-sensitivity of the area. Presiding officer Abby Taylor said the question was a new question and did not allow it.
