A contract valued at $47 million was approved by the Airports Authority (AA) on September 21, a day after a Central company won a bid to upgrade the lights at Piarco International Airport.

The details of the contract are contained in a letter of acceptance, dated September 21, sent by AA to the company.

The letter was first disclosed on the Breaking Barriers television show of broadcaster Inshan Ishmael, a supporter of the People's Partnership who raised questions about the award.

A former board member of AA has also described the contract award as "impossible". He said AA regulations allowed the board to award contracts to a maximum of $500,000 and only in "absolute emergencies".

AA is one of the State companies which has been operating without a board of directors since the May 24 general election. Members of the former board, which was chaired by John Eckstein, resigned on June 30.

Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner is the line minister in charge of AA and had been made aware of the contract details.

The $47,785,762.92 (plus $7.1 million VAT) proposal was made by Harry Persad and Sons Ltd, a company located at Mohepath Trace, St Helena Village, Piarco.

The letter, signed off by AA's corporate secretary/legal adviser Hayden Newton, stated: "We refer to your price proposal for the upgrade of the approach lighting system and the airfield lighting infrastructure at the Piarco International Airport, dated September 20, 2010, and advise that your proposal is acceptable to us."

The letter was copied to AA acting general manager Louis Frederick and deputy general manager Varma Joadsingh, who has responsibility for Estate Planning and Business Development.

Several attempts to contact Warner for comment on the issue during the day yesterday were unsuccessful. Speaking through one of his communications specialists late last night, however, Warner said he was in a Cabinet meeting at the Red House in Port of Spain. The meeting was called immediately following yesterday's session of Parliament to discuss State board appointments and went late into the night.

Contacted yesterday, an official at Harry Persad and Sons Ltd said he was unable to confirm the contract was awarded.

"I am unable to answer questions on that issue. Mr (Harry) Persad is the most suitable person, but he is unavailable."

Former Chaguanas mayor Natasha Navas, who now holds the position of human resources manager at the Airports Authority, could not be reached last evening.