David Gegg speaks on MOU with former administration

Businessman Hotchandani did testify yesterday at the Senate sitting and had conceded that he is a director of the seven companies that sold land to Portico.  He did not offer much more information to the committee as he chose to reject the questions based on the investigations’ terms of reference.  Another matter that arose, once the agreement had come to light, was the question of who was involved and who wasn’t.  Several persons from the then UDP administration have denied knowing anything about the agreement, but according to Gegg, several of those persons had been included in emails and had attended meetings on the Portico Development Project.

David Gegg, Portico Developer: “Senator it was my understanding, it is my understanding that Minister Panton did not approve of the government signing an MOU with us as she refused to sign it.”

Senator: Do you know any reasons why ?

David Gegg, Portico Developer: “I can’t say that but I understand that she refused to sign the MOU.”

Senator: So she was knowledgeable of this project ?

David Gegg, Portico Developer: “Absolutely. We had meetings with the CSCI before that MOU was signed. I checked certain emails last night and our correspondence and communication with the CSCI goes back to June 15 of 2017 months before the MOU was signed and there was quite a bit of correspondence at that time in those months leading up to the signing of  the MOU.” 

Senator: Would former AG Peyrefitte also aware of these correspondence and of course the MOU ?

David Gegg, Portico Developer: “The former AG was in a couple of the CSCI meetings I don’t remember the specific dates when he was there but those could be verified.”

Senator: Who were the signatories to the MOU ? 

David Gegg, Portico Developer: “Well the ones I remember were myself of course, Mr. Contreras and Minister Saldivar.”
Senator: Minister Saldivar.