Black Immigrant Daily News
PARAMARIBO — “Het geeft ons als defensie hoop dat we nu een nieuwe lichting officieren hebben afgeleverd die competent zijn
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Sergiy Kyslytsya, permanent representative of Ukraine to the UN and ambassador of Ukraine to TT (non-resident) in an interview at the Delegation of the European Union to TT, Queen’s Park East, Port of Spain. – SUREASH CHOLAI
As Trinidad and Tobago was celebrating its 60th anniversary of independence, the people of Ukraine were undergoing its sixth month of its independence being attacked. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24.
Sergiy Kyslytsya, permanent representative of Ukraine to the UN and ambassador of Ukraine to TT (non-resident), said the scale of destruction in Ukraine during this war surpassed the level of World War II. Then, 20,000 citizens of Mariupol, Ukraine were killed, but by the end of spring 2022, over 30,000 had been killed there. In addition, other cities have been or are being destroyed.
In an interview with Sunday Newsday at the Delegation of the European Union to TT, Queen’s Park East, Port of Spain, Kyslytsya congratulated TT on its 60th year of independence.
“Independence matters a lot to your country as much as it matters to my country. Ukraine was struggling for independence for centuries. We were incorporated in the Russian empire in the 17th century, and until this century it was non-stop aspiration by the Ukranian nation to become independent.
“The tragic irony is that, this year, on the day of independence, August 24, we also marked exactly six months of the full-scale aggression and invasion of Ukraine.”
Ukraine became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991.
He said Russia’s war against Ukraine actually started in February 2017, when Russia moved into Crimea, which was internationally recognised as part of Ukraine, tried to illegally annex it, and initiated war in the east of Ukraine.
He said the international reaction to the war in 2022 was very different from the reaction in 2014.
In 2014, 100 nations supported the UN General Assembly resolution on the territorial integrity of Ukraine. On March 2, 2022, 148 countries voted in favour of the resolution that condemned the Russian aggression, while Syria, Belarus, North Korea, and Eritrea supported Russia.
Children play jumping on destroyed Russian military vehicles displayed in central Kyiv, Ukraine on Saturday. – AP Photo
“This aggression is seen as aggression on the entire peace-loving, democratic and law-abiding community. Because it is the most egregious violation of the UN Charter since the end of World War II and, in fact, since the creation of the UN.”
Kyslytsya expressed gratitude that TT’s leadership chose to uphold the UN’s Charter and support Ukraine, saying it should be proud to be a member of the international community. He said TT should not underestimate the importance of its vote, because, even though it was a small nation, size did not matter in the UN General Assembly. Each country had a vote that counted.
“When you vote for the defence of the UN Charter and the principles and objectives, you vote for the environment, on the global scale, that will allow you and all other countries to deal with other challenges. Because it is a matter of fact that the current war distracts so much effort and resources – financial and human – from dealing with other pending issues on a global scale.”
He used climate change, the energy crisis and food shortages as examples. He pointed out that small countries, especially island nations, contributed minimally to climate change, yet they were some of the most affected.
He said development depended on the collective action of those who contributed most to climate change. But instead of focusing on plans to combat it, some countries were dealing with food shortages or trying to maintain a supply of energy, putting climate change on the back burner.
Some countries returned to coal mining and using coal for energy, when coal puts out the most carbon dioxide per unit of energy and is the single largest source of global temperature rise contributing to climate change.
Energy shortages also increased the cost of production and therefore import costs.
The world’s energy issues were exacerbated when gas exports from Russia – the biggest oil and natural gas exporter – were curtailed in an attempt to limit its ability to finance the war in Ukraine.
Also, the two countries exported about 24 per cent of the world’s wheat, so, between the war in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia, there was less supply, resulting in increased food prices globally.
All of this has affected every citizen of TT, from doing business to buying groceries.
Joining the EU and NATO
Kyslytsya said over 160 countries, including Ukraine, could not defend themselves on their own strength.
He said the global solution, the UN, did not prevent the war because the Russian Federation, along with China, France, the UK and the US, is a permanent member on the 15-member UN Security Council. And permanent members could veto issues, which was what Russia did with respect to Ukraine.
A priest blesses coffins with unidentified civilians who died on the territory of the Bucha community during the Russian occupation period in February-March 2022, during a funeral in Bucha, near Kyiv, Ukraine, on Friday. – AP Photo
Therefore, Ukraine had to turn to a regional solution, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). It also applied for membership of the European Union (EU) shortly after it was invaded by Russia, and the European Council granted it candidate status in June.
Kyslytsya dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s reasons for invading his country.
He said before the war, Putin wanted to prevent NATO from expanding. But his invasion led Finland and Sweden, known throughout the years for remaining neutral on international armed conflicts, to formally apply to join NATO.
Also, Putin said he did not want to have “more NATO” at Russia’s borders, but Ukraine’s borders were shared by other NATO countries. If Russia took over the country, the exact opposite would be the case.
“No matter the grievances, launching a full-scale war is not the reply. So Ukraine should not be blamed for a war solution. It is Russia who launched this unjustified and unprovoked war.”
He added that Russia could not offer Ukraine anything, as it had “no rule of law,” no new technologies and was “economically backward.”
As an example, he said Russia’s contribution to the UN Regular Budget was less than two per cent compared to the US’s, which was capped at 22 per cent. Among other things, the budget contributions were based on each country’s gross national income, indicating that Russia was not as financially well off as it purports.
“The Russian Federation, that has this incredibly large territory, they used to tell all of us, ‘You should be afraid of us because we have the second strongest army,’ which proved to be a lie. They contribute to the budget of the entire organisation less than two per cent and they still try to dictate all of us and how we should live.”
Kyslytsya said credible evidence of Putin’s war crimes and crimes against humanity was being collected by countries and organisations including the International Criminal Court (ICC). He said the ICC had a team working on collecting the data and preserving the evidence of the war, and satellite imagery meant Putin could not hide his actions.
“What happens today is a result of three decades of complacency and turning a blind eye (to) what Russia was doing. Because every time Russia would do something, we, including Ukraine, would express our concern and then go back to business as usual. So we led Putin to the point where he was quite confidently believing that, no matter what he does, we’ll be initially unhappy and then we would continue to operate as usual.
“That is why one of the most important things is the issue of accountability and fighting impunity.”
He noted that the Group of Friends (GoF) of Accountability, consisting of about 50 countries, was formed to ensure accountability for international crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine. And fighting impunity was important for all. since there were many conflicts around the world in which thousands of people were being killed.
When the war is over, Kyslytsya hopes to continue discussions with TT on “mutually complementary” topics.
He said he met Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Dr Amery Browne for the first time in October 2021 and was impressed by his “clarity of thought” and common-sense approach.
“Then we had quite a list of things that, in spite of being geographically far away from each other, we could have developed.”
That included the agricultural sector, IT, and digitalisation. Unfortunately, because of the invasion, those matters were put on hold until the war was over. Then, he said, the needs and interests of the people in Ukraine could be identified and the two countries could see what TT could provide.
He added that he was sorry Ukraine could not afford a permanent presence in TT and hoped TT could be elected to the UN General Assembly in the future.
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Zelia Christiana Castello suffered hairloss after chemotherapy for cancer. –
TIME is running out for 27-year-old cancer patient Zelia Christiana Castello of Hollywood, Point Fortin.
Castello’s dream is to live to see her seven-year-old son grow up and realise his potential.
Standing in her way of making this a reality is the TT$1.4 million (US$200,000) she must raise for a life-saving operation.
“If I don’t raise that sum, the worse case scenario is death,” she told the Sunday Newsday on Friday.
A municipal police officer – last assigned to the Siparia Regional Corporation – Castello said after chemotherapy three weeks ago, local doctors told her there was nothing more they could do to save her.
“Chemo puts the cancer to sleep. It stays in the body for one month. As soon as the chemo wears off, the cancer wakes back up. My last treatment was three weeks ago and doctors said there is nothing else they can do for me here.
“So, I am in the wilderness. It’s not like I am getting any kind of chemo here to help control the disease. No more treatment here and no money to go to where treatment can be provided.
“Bearing in mind that cancer is not something that stays in one place, but tends to grow and spread to other organs, I am facing death if I don’t get that treatment soon.”
In January 2021, Castello was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma – cancer of the lymphatic system which is part of the body’s germ-fighting immune system. She has been undergoing treatment at San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH) ever since.
The disease has limited her ability to work.
“I am unable to work, so I have been under some financial strain because cancer medication is expensive.”
She said her insurance did not provide coverage for cancer.
Municipal police officer Zelia Christiana Castello at SAPA, San Fernando before a cancer diagnosis in January 2021. –
Not all treatments are available at the SFGH and some have to be done privately like the PET CT scan she did recently which showed that the cancer had progressed from stage 3 to stage 4, requiring an urgent bone marrow transplant.
“I have reached out to facilities all over the world, and was given the opportunity to liaise with doctors at two different hospitals in India – Max Speciality and Apollo.”
Assistance was provided by the office of the Indian High Commission in TT.
“However, the procedure is very expensive.”
She said Apollo is the less expensive of the two and has agreed to accept a down payment and the outstanding balance a little later on, because her case is urgent.
She was scheduled to leave on September 5, but her limited funds caused her to postpone her travel.
“I need to leave sometime between September 12 to 15 and I am hoping the public would really respond and assist.”
“I am basically appealing for funds to live. To live for myself and to live for my son. I want to see him grow up.”
Through many fund-raising ventures, she said she was able to raise some $40,000 which was used to purchase medication and private treatment, plus a $15,000 down payment to undergo a high-dose salvage chemotherapy, which is not done at the Indian hospital but privately.
This aggressive form of chemo must take place, she explained, before an autologous bone marrow transplant can be done.
“God is on my side because I don’t need a donor. Doctors said my bone marrow was not compromised or damaged by the chemo treatment I underwent.
“What they will do is a procedure call autologous bone marrow transplant, where they remove your bone marrow, clear out the cancer cells and reimplant it. Then I will be on my way to recovery.”
Castello lamented that Hodgkin’s lymphoma is one of the most curable cancers and also the easiest to cure, “but we don’t have much avenues here in TT to treat Hodgkin’s.”
Research shows that advances in diagnosis and treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma have given patients the chance for a full recovery.
Anyone who wants to help Castello may make a donation to any First Citizens branch, account: 2283611. She can also be contacted at 329-1688.
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File photo
There were three more shooting murders in TT between Friday evening and Saturday morning.
The first took place on Friday around 6.45 pm in Arima.
According to a police report, officers received information about gunshots at Heights of Guanapo, Arima. When they arrived, they found Anton Cabralis, 20, from Quarry Road, Valencia lying under a tree. He was leaving the home of his father to go to work when he was shot several times and killed. He was taken to the Arima Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The second occurred around 1.20 am on Saturday.
Five men were in a Kia Cerato car on Prosperity Lane, Upper Gonzales, Belmont when they were shot at by a group of men. One man, David Williams, died at hospital while Garvan Burke, Josiah Holder, Anton Selmon, and a man only identified as Akim, were wounded.
The third murder took place near the St Michael’s swimming pool in San Fernando. Around 5 am police received a call saying someone was having a heart attack. When the police and EMTs arrived on Carib Street, they found the body of Sherlock “Bandit” Charles, 42, on the road with several bullet wounds.
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File photo
Four people have died of covid19 taking total deaths to 4,154. There are 226 new cases, 5,484 active cases and the total cases since the pandemic is 179,683. There are 190 patients in hospital and 5,279 in home isolation. The number of people who have completed the vaccination regime is 716,488.
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PARAMARIBO — De Medische Zending, belast met de gezondheidszorg in het binnenland, heeft de handen ineengeslagen met de politieke partijen
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San Juan Business Association president Jason Roach –
THE San Juan Business Association (SJBA) and the Joint Consultative Council (JCC) both hope Finance Minister Colm Imbert will shine a spotlight on several aspects of the economy when he presents the 2022/2023 budget in the House of Representatives on September 26.
Imbert announced this date as budget day during the Spotlight on the Economy which his ministry hosted at Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain on Friday.
In a statement, SJBA president Jason Roach commended the ministry for the event.
“It has given stakeholders an opportunity to put the budget into context and to allow for a more prudent conversation. The economy appears to be recovering within the global context. “
But Roach said the business community remains concerned about inflation, in the context of increased energy prices.
“Highlights showed that social grants, WASA subsidy, TTEC subsidy, as well as fuel; the man on the street will inevitably feel the pressure of inflation.”
Roach was also concerned about the state of wage negotiations between the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) and trade unions.
“It must also be noted that the current debacle with CPO and trade unions wage negotiations has been estimated that four per cent will cost the county $2.6 billion. This is certainly a burden on taxpayers dollars and the bottom line is that we are paying for an item that isn’t yielding optimum utility and performance.”
Roach listed some items the SJBA hoped would be focused on in the budget.
They include road repair and rehabilitation, value-added tax (VAT) returns, foreign exchange (forex) availability, incentives to drive growth on exports and infrastructural development.
While the association eagerly awaits the budget’s presentation in three weeks time, Roach said, “We will continue articulating our position with our membership at this time.”
In a separate statement, the JCC for the construction industry president, Fazir Khan, wants to hear more details about public procurement legislation.
Khan said the last information the JCC heard on this issue was on June 22, when Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC, said that Government could not proceed with full operationalisation of the legislation as several outstanding matters needed to be dealt with.
He said the JCC asked the Prime Minister for an update on this matter during the event on Friday.
JCC president Fazir Khan. –
Khan said Dr Rowley indicated that he did not agree that procurement reform has the potential to save TT billions of dollars.
“For this, he relied on his recent discussions with the Jamaican Prime Minister (Andrew Holness), in which the latter indicated that in the Jamaica experience, it led to higher costs and more delays in the sphere of smaller scale procurement.”
Khan said the JCC can find no evidence for this statement. He suggested that TT should compare itself “to more developed countries if we aspire to achieve significant improvement in our systems.”
Khan said, “No stakeholder has ever claimed that procurement legislation, when operationalised, would be a magic wand to change corruption associated with public spending.”
He added, ” Operationalisation of the legislation would simply facilitate real oversight by an independent body, the OPR (Office of the Procurement Regulator) that is now ably equipped with the human and technological resources to execute their primary function under the Public Procurement and Property Disposal Act.”
Khan acknowledged that “everyone understands that the process of change will continue to be slow before the country realises the benefit of reduced corruption through increased efficiency, independent oversight and transparency.”
He reiterated the JCC’s call for Rowley to liaise with Armour on the details of the outstanding matters delaying the operationalisation of public procurement legislation, so the public can know when this will happen.
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Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar during a media conference at her Charles Street, Port of Spain office. – FILE PHOTO/SUREASH CHOLAI
OPPOSITION Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar categorically rejected Finance Minister Colm Imbert’s view about the economy making a strong recovery.
At the Spotlight on the Economy held by the Finance Ministry at Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain on Friday, Imbert said the economy was now enjoying a strong recovery
But he urged caution as future developments in global events could affect local revenues,
In a statement on Saturday, Persad-Bissessar described the “spotlight on the economy” event as a brazen act of political propaganda that would have made North Korean president Kim Jong Un “blush with embarrassment.”
She reiterated the UNC’s claims about the Prime Minister being an autocratic leader who is completely disconnected from reality, unconcerned with the truth, and has no plan to move TT forward.
“Once again in what has become a running theme with this PNM government, unelected state employees were trotted out before the public and made to sing the praises of the Rowley regime under the nearby watchful gaze of Rowley himself.”
Persad-Bissessar claimed no independent economists or analysts were present to give their perspectives.
“Nor were ordinary citizens currently struggling under the weight of mass unemployment, runaway food prices, and exploding violent crime, allowed to participate. “
She claimed the event was “an act of obscurity to cover up the PNM’s blatant failures.”
Persad-Bissessar said the PNM has failed to outline a clear policy to promote economic growth, increase the ease of doing business and create an investor-friendly environment.
“The people of Trinidad and Tobago do not need to attend a fancy lunch at the Hyatt paid for by taxpayers to know the truth about the harsh economic reality they are living in.”
That reality, Persad-Bissessar continued, is felt by ordinary people when they buy their groceries, travel to work, fill their cars with gasoline and wonder how they can afford to buy school books and uniforms for their children.
She claimed Imbert uses the same litany of excuses to justify the state of the economy.
“Blame Kamla, blame covid, blame (Russian President Vladimir) Putin.”
She also said Imbert tries to keep people focused on “countries worse off than us rather than the countries moving ahead of us.”
Persad-Bissessar reiterated the UNC’s call for Dr Rowley to immediately call a general election and the UNC’s promise that it can lead TT forward.
“Once again, it has been made painfully clear that this Rowley-led regime is incapable of managing our nation’s affairs, and must do the right thing and step aside, and allow a leader and team with the vision and capability to take our country forward.”
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David Elcock. –
BROADCASTING legend Winston David Elcock has been remembered as a consummate professional, who not only nurtured the talents of rookie broadcasters but also created avenues for local artistes to showcase their talents to the world.
Singer Carol Addison delivered one of several tributes to Elcock on Saturday during his funeral service at the R Steven Legal Funeral Home, Avenue N, Brooklyn, New York.
Elcock, who would have turned 79 later this month, died in New York around 1.30 pm on August 25 after a lengthy illness.
One of Trinidad and Tobago’s pioneering broadcasters, he was best known for the now-defunct National Broadcasting Service’s (NBS) Radio 610’s Elcock in the Morning programme, which ran from the early 70s to the 90s.
Addison, who migrated to the US many years ago, said she owed a huge debt of gratitude to Elcock, whom she regarded as a friend and confidante.
“I owe a tremendous portion or maybe all of my career to the support that Dave gave to me because through him promoting my music, he positioned me in a way that many doors opened across the globe and a lot happened as a result of him supporting the music,” she told mourners.
Addison said Elcock, who gave his life to Christ several years ago, also attended many of the concerts of the Brooklyn Tabernacle and other places where she ministered.
“So I owe a lot to him and I thank God for his life.”
The singer said she and Elcock had also bonded over the loss of their spouses. His wife, who had battled cancer, passed away almost three years ago.
At the end of her tribute, Addison sang the hymn, I Will Lift Up My Eyes and Take Me Back, one of Elcock’s favourites. The latter, she said, was the only gospel song from her Born To Shine album.
Tobago entertainer Michael Baker, calypsonian David Rudder and gospel artiste The Rev Nicole Ballosingh-Holder, in separate virtual tributes, also recalled that Elcock had helped them during the early part of their careers.
Saying Elcock was instrumental in his popularity on the local airwaves, Baker said he played several of his tunes on the radio, including The Base, Who Take Way She Man, A Good Working Old Thing Better Than A Young Thing and his signature tune, Come Discover Both Of Us.
Baker listed several prominent broadcasters of the 1970s and 80s, saying Elcock ranked highly among them.
But he lamented that the popular broadcaster had to leave the career he loved in search of greener pastures in the US.
Calypso legend David Rudder in concert at the Lidj Yasu Omowale Emancipation Village at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain in July. – SUREASH CHOLAI
“In another society, someone stated, Big Brother Dave Elcock would have been retained to train and mentor the current local generation of broadcasters. Instead, at the prime of his illustrious career, Elcock was forced to hightail it to the United States to seek employment in another industry, dabbling only occasionally in his first love, promoting culture on the air,” Baker said.
Rudder also recalled that Elcock, whom he described as a broadcaster extraordinaire, had also promoted his music in the early days.
“I hope I have answered in a good way,” he said, adding Elcock’s work has been embedded in the psyche of citizens for generations.
Ballosingh-Holder said Elcock sought inspiration from everyone and in everything that he did.
“But he went one step further, whatever inspired him he invested in and I thank God that my voice and my music inspired him and he chose to invest in it,” she said.
“That one act caused so many doors to be opened to me beyond church and religious communities that I could inspire many nations in the world today.”
In their reflections, Elcock’s children Jason, Mark and Amanda spoke of their father’s passion for radio, sense of humour, humility and generosity.
Jason, whom he had with first wife, singer Mavis John, said his father had always loved radio.
“I remember him telling stories about his childhood and others, my godfather, used to say that they would be walking with him and he would be pretending that he is announcing something that is transpiring,” he said.
“They go to a football match and he would be the announcer on the side. It was something that he loved at an early age and continued throughout his life.”
Jason said despite his father’s very public persona, he was happiest at home.
He added while Elcock was not perfect, he never harboured bad intentions toward anyone and was always brutally honest.
Mark, who works in the film, television and music industry, said he learnt early in his life that his father had always loved the media.
“But for me he was just Dad,” he said.
Mark shared that some of his fondest memories of his father were the times they went jogging around the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain.
He said all of the coconut vendors around the Savannah knew Elcock and often complimented him on his work.
“But he would always ask them about their lives.”
Amanda, an author, said she is now struggling to come to terms with the loss of both her parents within a short space of time.
She also shared some fun moments as a child.
Saying they enjoyed eating powdered milk together, Amanda recalled he also secretly gave her sips of coffee before leaving their house to host Scouting For Talent. She said at times he would also play wrestling with them.
Amanda said Elcock had also had a compilation of poems which he shared with her.
Elcock’s brother, Lloyd, delivered the eulogy. Veteran media personalities Neil Giuseppi, Wayne Le Blanc and Vic Fernandes also offered virtual tributes.
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Piarco International Airport. –
FORMER prime minister Basdeo Panday, his wife Oma, former minister Carlos John and businessman Ishwar Galbaransingh have failed in their bid to stop their decades-old preliminary inquiry into bribery charges arising out of the Piarco airport expansion project from restarting.
They had resisted any attempt by the prosecution to have the matter further adjourned.
On Friday, Magistrate Adia Mohammed refused an application by the four to stay the matter because of abuse. The four had resisted the prosecution’s application for an adjournment, pushing for their discharge and objecting to any further delay.
In July, the State, represented by deputy DPP George Busby sought an adjournment to get further instructions from DPP Roger Gaspard, SC, on how to proceed with the Piarco III preliminary inquiry, after Mohammed said she received authorisation to start the case afresh.
DPP Roger Gaspard –
The matter has been called periodically in the Port of Spain magistrates’ court since it landed in Mohammed’s docket in 2019 after she was assigned to the first court, which primarily hears fraud cases.
It now comes up for hearing on September 22 for case management.
The Pandays were charged with corruptly receiving money while John and Galbaransingh were charged with corruptly giving £25,000 to the couple.
John and Galbaransingh were accused of giving Panday the money as an inducement or reward in relation to the Piarco airport expansion project.
The Pandays and the others were charged in 2005.
A preliminary inquiry began before former senior magistrate Ejenny Espinet on May 31, 2006, and on February 12, 2008, the defendants asked that she recuse herself after they said they received information that Espinet was a trustee and treasurer of the Morris Marshall Development Foundation and thus, would be biased against them because of her alleged close connections with the People’s National Movement (PNM).
Former prime minister Basdeo Panday –
Legal challenges on the basis of apparent bias were dismissed and the case continued before Espinet until she retired in 2018, leaving it part-heard.
In their application resisting its restart, John and Galbaransingh argued the prosecution had four years – after an appeal in the matter was discontinued to consider its options; that it was grossly unfair and egregiously wrong to have the decades-old matter remain before the court and the cost to the justice system to have it continued.
They argued the continuation of the prosecution after 17 years would amount to oppression and the proceedings ought to be stayed as an abuse of the process of the court having regard to the inexcusable and inordinate delay by the State.
It was further argued that nothing prevented the chief magistrate from ordering that the matter restart soon after Espinet retired in Jan uary 2018.
Carlos John –
They also argued their constitutional rights to a fair trial will be prejudiced.
In giving a lengthy ruling, Mohammed outlined the history of the matter, recognising that four years had gone unexplained but said she was unable to determine it was because of any ill intent by the State.
She also cited the covid19 pandemic, which affected the usual operations of the court, and said, taking into consideration the overriding objective to deal with all criminal cases justly, “I am therefore satisfied on a balance of probabilities that the delay complained of has not resulted in prejudice to the applicants such that it may be contended that they cannot receive a fair trial.
“I am also satisfied on a balance of probabilities that the continued prosecution of the applicants is not unconscionable, oppressive and a misuse of the process of the court.
“…I do not find that this case falls into the category of exceptional and rare circumstances where the court ought to exercise its discretion to impose a stay of the proceedings on the basis of delay.”
She further noted, “This case concerns charges of both applicants under the Prevention of Corruption Act in May 2005 involving State funds.
Ish Galbaransingh –
“There is therefore a significant public interest in persons charged being brought to trial.”
She also mentioned that Panday was the prime minister and Oma his wife on the date of the alleged offence, so “public interest considerations are therefore significant in my determination of the application before this court in dealing with this matter justly.”
The charges against the former prime minister were linked to wider charges against several businessmen and businesses. In all, there are four related inquiries, none of which have gone to trial.
On June 29, Gaspard said it was his position that “taking Piarco I to trial would have been oppressive if not legally nettlesome while the other matters related to the airport project were in train, bearing in mind that there were common accused in both sets of matters.”
Instead, he said, “A joint trial of the allegations in Piarco No I and those arising from those other matters was desirable.”
Two days earlier, the Privy Council held that a complaint by the accused charged in Piarco I, of apparent bias against then chief magistrate Sherman McNicolls, was sufficient to strike down their committal to stand trial. Gaspard said he now has to consider the future of that case.
Gaspard also said he felt constrained to advise citizens that, “the ruling by the Judicial Committee does not pertain to other matters which fall outside of those that comprise Piarco No I.”
The ruling by the London court followed a ruling by a US judge disqualifying Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC, and the US law firm Sequor Law, from a multi-million dollar civil-asset forfeiture case linked to the same airport project, on the basis of Armour’s previous work as an attorney for one of the accused, former minister Brian Kuei Tung. The disqualification of Sequor Law is under appeal in the US.
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