Education Minister Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine on Thursday told the National Assembly that he never benefitted personally, in cash or in kind, while serving on the Board of Directors of the Homestretch Development Inc. (HDI), which was tasked with overseeing construction of the D’urban Park Development project.

In his presentation to the House, Dr. Roopnaraine said that in over 40 years of political activism, “I have never hidden behind anyone. In over forty years of political activism, I have never engaged in any acts giving off even a whiff of malfeasance and I deeply resent any whispering s or hints in the media to that effect.”

Over the past few weeks, the Opposition People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) along with Executive of the Working People’s Alliance Member (WPA) Dr. David Hinds called on the Minister of Education to state his role at the HDI.

Following a motion laid by the PPP in the National Assembly, the party had called on the government to make a full disclosure of the cost, individuals and businesses that were involved in the project before it was taken over by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.

Initially, Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson had told the House that the first phase of the project was funded and managed by HDI which was owned by Larry London, Bobita Ram, Victor Wilson and Gentian Miller.

However, on Thursday, Dr. Roopnaraine sought to set the record straight after weeks of silence while warning that he will not allow persons to accuse him of malfeasance. He said he has nothing to hide and noted that in July 2015, the National Commemoration Commission (NCC) was established when the APNU+AFC coalition government made a decision to commemorate its 50th Independence Anniversary.

At that time, he was appointed Chairman of the Proceedings, which the Opposition was invited to participate but never attended.

“The decision was made to develop the D’urban Park site when it was determined that the traditional venue for independence celebrations, the National Park, would have required extensive repairs as well as the appropriation of the rugby field to accommodate the several thousand persons expected to participate.”

Additionally, the Education Minister said those involved in the project up to the time of hand over to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure were not remunerated.  Meanwhile, in what appears to be a response to the opposition on the issue, Dr Roopnaraine said he finds it distressing that acknowledgement of the efforts of those who contributed to the development of D’urban Park go unrecognized.