Government's decision to secure an $83 million contract with Hewlett-Packard to supply 24,000 laptops to SEA students this month is above board and totally transparent, Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh said yesterday.

He was speaking to the media at Crown Point Airport, Tobago, where he was awaiting the arrival of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for the Cabinet retreat.

Gopeesingh was responding to questions on whether he had concerns over a report from the United States Department of Justice, which alleged that HP had defrauded the General Services Administration (GSA) and other government agencies by paying "influencer fees" to third-party vendors.

According to the report, released yesterday, HP agreed in principle to settle the case and paid US$55 million (TT$350m).The People's Partnership Government had promised a laptop for every child entering secondary school this month, and to keep that promise the multi-million-dollar contract was awarded to the US-based HP.

"If that is so in the United States, I can assure you there is no question about it in relation to Trinidad and Tobago," Gopeesingh said yesterday.

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) made the announcement following a tentative settlement reached last month in which HP "agreed in principle to resolve the case".

The settlement closes the book on the DOJ's allegations that HP defrauded the General Services Administration (GSA) and other government agencies by paying "influencer fees" to third-party vendors.

In response to the settlement, HP denied any wrongdoing.

The company stated, "HP denies engaging in any illegal conduct in connection with these matters. We believe it is in the best interest of our stakeholders to resolve the matter and move beyond this issue."

The charges in the case go back to 2004, when whistleblowers at an accounting firm known as Accenture and investment firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers, filed a complaint alleging HP had paid kickbacks dubbed "influencer fees" to have HP services and gear recommended for government contracts and agencies.

Yesterday, Gopeesingh said given the nature of the report, he will ask the legal team from the Attorney General's office to look into the matter.

He stressed, "I am sure there would be no wrongdoing, they would find there is no relationship with Trinidad and Tobago whatsoever."

He said the inter ministerial committee had put out invitations to bid to manufacturers directly and the entire evaluation method had transparency and accountability, with members of the Central Tenders Board and from the ministry supervising after the evaluation was done by the inter ministerial committee.

He said a legal team comprising lawyers from the AG's office, Ministry of Public Administration, Solicitor General's office, as well as the Education Ministry, have been working on the contract, "so we feel very confident that has no direct bearing with us in Trinidad and Tobago".

Asked by the Express how he felt knowing that HP, whether it is in the United States or not, has been accused of such allegations, Gopeesingh said: "We're dealing with HP Latin America and the Caribbean and I don't have any other relationship with any United States company."