Ongoing probe into Piarco Airport project:
Calmaquip CEO out on $2M bail

By KHRYSTAL RAWLINS

Yet another person has been added to the growing list of persons charged for corruption arising out of ongoing investigations into the Piarco Airport Development project. Appearing before a Port-of-Spain magistrate yesterday was Raoul Guiterez, CEO of the Calmaquip Engineering Corporation, a Florida-based company hired to conduct work on the new Piarco Airport Terminal. Guiterez is the eleventh person to be charged so far for corrupt practices during the construction of the airport terminal, which turned out to be a billion dollar scandal. Guiterez, of 12850 Red Road, Coral Gables, Florida, stood before Magistrate Lianne Lee Kim in the City’s Fourth Court, where he had his charges read to him.

Appearing for Guiterez was attorney Pamela Elder SC while Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Carla Browne Antoine appeared for the State. In applying for bail for her client, attorney Pamela Elder said Guiterez had given himself up to officers of the Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau. A warrant had been initially prepared to have Guiterez extradited, however, the Calmaquip CEO surrendered before the warrant was executed. Elder told Lee Kim, that it was important to note the fact that her client surrendered to law officers and as a result, should have no problems in granting her client bail. “My client does not have any pending matters before the courts, and as a result, I am applying for bail. If your worship (magistrate) does in fact grant bail, I question whether $2 million would suffice?” Elder submitted. The Calmaquip CEO, according to Elder, came prepared and had the sum of money in the form of a certified cheque.

In response, State attorney, Browne Antoine said there were no objections to bail and the sum proposed by Elder. Lee Kim then granted Guiterez the $2 million bail sum, which she said was to be made payable to a Clerk of the Peace in the magistracy of St George West. Ten others face 21 charges arising out of the investigations into corrupt practices during the Piarco Airport Development Project. They are former Finance Minister Brian Quei Tung, his companion Renee Pierre, former chairmen of the Airport’s Authority Tyrone Gopee and Ameer Edoo, former chairman of NIPDEC Edward Bayley, CEO of Northern Construction Ltd Ishwar Galbaransingh, former chairman of Maritime Group of Companies Steve Ferguson, Managing Director of Northern Construction Ltd Amrith Maharaj, former United National Congress Minister Sadiq Baksh, and Peter Cato former Client Representative in the Ministry of Works and Transport.

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