A contract for an energy project at the National Sports Centre has not yet been awarded, the Minister of Labour, Community Affairs and Sport has revealed.

Lovitta Foggo was speaking after questions were tabled in Parliament by Craig Cannonier, the Opposition leader, last Friday.

Mr Cannonier asked when the contract for the project had been awarded and when the successful bidder was told they had won.

Ms Foggo confirmed in written responses to both questions: “No contract has been awarded.”

The Progressive Labour Party said last month that a company owned by Damon Wade, the former party chairman, had been designated the “preferred bidder” for the public-private partnership in September 2018.

A spokeswoman added that the decision was made before Mr Wade became party chairman.

She said: “Therefore, it would be incorrect to suggest the chairman used his position for personal gain or failed to live up to the high moral standards that the officers and members have set for the party and themselves.”

The statement was released a day after Mr Wade announced that he would step down as chairman.

A unanimous vote of no confidence was passed against him and his resignation was demanded by the party in December.

The vote came after Mr Wade claimed he was owed a place in a PLP “friends and family policy” at a central committee meeting earlier that month.

The meeting was recorded and posted on social media.

Mr Wade appeared to refer in the recording to a proposal masterminded by himself for an energy project at the Devonshire sports complex that he claimed would generate jobs and raise funds for investment in black-owned businesses.

Mr Wade did not respond to a request for comment yesterday.

He said in the statement released last month that he had been “honoured” to serve as PLP chairman.

Mr Wade added he would remain with the PLP to work on the research and platform committee and the parliamentary group to “put forward recommendations to the party’s central committee to assist issues faced by small business”.