By Stephen Cummings
Caribbean Net News Trinidad and Tobago Correspondent
Email: stephen@caribbeannetnews.com

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: An opposition Member of Parliament in Trinidad has raised some issues he says points to corruption by the Patrick Manning-led administration's acquisition of three offshore patrol vessels.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning earlier said government considered purchasing the three vessels at TT$2.5 billion to patrol the country's coastline against drug traffickers.  The prime minister told journalists government had declared war on drug traffickers.

But, in a new twist, Opposition Member of Parliament for Caroni East Trinidad, Ganga Singh said the deal was riddled with corruption.

"I have received information that, in the first instance, the government wanted vessels of a speed of 25 knots and invited four governments – Germany, Sweden, Italy and Britain – to participate in the process," Singh said speaking at a public meeting.

"Halfway through the process, the government informed the bidders that they wanted a lesser speed of 20 knots," he added.

According to Singh, when certain governments intervened, they abandoned the process. This he said was evidence of corruption on the part of Manning administration.

Singh also said that "the Italian government did lodge a complaint against thegovernment on this issue."

Singh later named two top PNM officials attached to the ruling party he says are involved in questionable activities.