An “oversight” was the reason why some Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) documents to be disposed of, were not properly shredded, according to Stuart Young (Minister in the Prime Minister’s office) yesterday.
Replying to Opposition queries in the Senate, he said as soon as the EBC became aware of the issue they contacted the firm handling the disposal – New Age Recycling, formerly Ace recycling – and ensured that all remaining documents in their possession were satisfactorily destroyed.
Young noted there is no fixed contract for disposal of election documents of paper waste at EBC and no one is selected randomly for work. He said the EBC is an independent body and when necessary the commission contacts the company to collect shredded waste and that company disposes of it at no cost.
Young also said a probe wasn’t required into the acquisition of Tobago’s Manta Lodge raised by UNC’s Wade Mark and he wasn’t aware of the matter. Mark asked if the PNM’s Tobago leader (Tracy Davidson-Celestine) was the Tourism secretary when the lodge was acquired.
