EDUCATION Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, on Thursday told the National Assembly that he never benefited personally, in cash or in kind, while serving on the board of directors of the Homestretch Development Inc. (HDI) tasked with putting together the country’s 50th Independence celebrations.

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 40 years of political activism, I have never engaged in any acts giving off even a whiff of malfeasance and I deeply resent any whisperings or hints in the media to that effect.”

Over the past few weeks, the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), along with executive member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr. David Hinds,has called on the Minister of Education to state his role in 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, in 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 the D’urban Park Development Project (DPDP) was authorised by Cabinet and works began during the last quarter of 2015.

“In January 2016, I was asked by the President to sit as a director on the Board of the Homestretch Development Inc. Although not my direct responsibility, the DPDP team, with no budget, was given the task of preparing the site for the 50th anniversary,” he noted.

Describing the assignment as “no small task,” Dr. Roopnaraine said the team relied on donations and works began in full view of the public.

In April, Larry London, the Chief Executive Officer of HDI, also a member of the National Commemoration Commission, informed the Government that the donations and credit arrangements it had relied on to fund the D’urban Park project had been exhausted, said the Education Minister.

“It was then decided by Cabinet to have the Ministry of Public Infrastructure take over the responsibility for the works to bring the project to completion in time for the 50th anniversary.”

Following that Cabinet decision, London handed over the project to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure as mandated by Cabinet and according to Dr. Roopnaraine, records of monies and in-kind donations were also handed over.

“I anticipate that there will be a full and proper accounting from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure. It is my understanding that many of the persons who had made contributions to the D’urban Park Development Project did not want to be publicly identified or thanked, presumably for fear of condemnation or worse, from persons who were hostile to the project.”

Additionally, the Education Minister said those involved in the project up to the time of handing over to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure had not been 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 unrecognised.

Meanwhile, President David Granger on a recent edition of his weekly television programme,

“The Public Interest,” had cleared Dr Roopnaraine of any wrongdoing.

“Dr. Rupert Roopnaraine has not committed any error. In fact, he was a representative on the company that was formerly established. We have not concealed the company. He represented the Government’s interest because the celebrations which we had aimed at, at that time of the establishment of the company, concerned largely the 50th anniversary celebrations. So please don’t attach any blame or any fault to him,” the President had said.