(Trinidad Express) Bring it on.
Investigative reporter Anika Gumbs- Sandiford said yesterday that her life is an open book and she would welcome any investigation into her personal finances.
She also said she was not intimidated by any politician, adding that her owning a car was as a result of her hard work over the years.
Gumbs-Sandiford, a Guardian reporter, came under heavy attack at the United National Congress’ (UNC) Monday Night Forum in Carapo, Arima, from Sport Minister Anil Roberts. Also at the meeting, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar accused the Trinidad and Tobago media of being biased against the People’s Partnership Government.
Persad-Bissessar also said there rogue reporters in the media who were not fair to her Government.
Roberts slammed Gumbs-Sandiford, questioning her personal finances and assets in relation to her reporter’s salary. He told the audience that Gumbs-Sandiford was the owner of a silver Honda CRV and the owner of a new house in East Trinidad. He also alleged that she was a frequent flyer to Miami where she shopped “very often” for handbags and matching shoes.
He called on the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to investigate her.
According to its website, the FIU is the primary institution for the collection of financial intelligence and information of persons or institutions, and one of its functions is to receive suspicious transactions and suspicious activity reports from financial institutions, including banks.
The Sport Minister’s attack on the reporter follows a report in the Guardian last Wednesday titled “Anil faces DPP probe”, and on Thursday, “Anil must step aside’.
Gumbs-Sandiford reported that the Integrity Commission had referred Roberts, his permanent secretary Ashwin Creed, and special adviser to the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board of Control (TTBBC) Boxu Potts to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in relation to a complaint of alleged misappropriation of funds at the TTBBC.
Roberts, however, provided proof of a letter from the Integrity Commission at last Thursday’s post-Cabinet meeting that he was not under any probe and neither were the two other officials.
“It is sad to know that a Cabinet Minister could use a post-Cabinet forum and again a public political meeting to attack my character,” Gumbs-Sandiford said.
“What I can say is that Minister Roberts’ claims against me are false and misleading. I am challenging Mr Roberts to produce a deed stating that I own a property in East Trinidad. I do not live in the East, I own no such home in the East. I have never owned a home in East Trinidad,” said Gumbs-Sandiford, adding that she is originally from South.
As for Roberts’ allegations about her frequent shopping trips to Miami, the reporter said her passport would show that she has only travelled to the United States once.
“The first time I travelled to the US was to New York city and not to Miami as Minister Roberts is claiming. That visit was on August 4, 2012.
“That was the first and only time I ever travelled to the US. I have no clue what Mr Roberts meant when he said I often go to Miami. In fact I ask him now to produce the evidence to show that my passport bears any stamps to Miami,” she added.
As to owning a Honda CRV, Gumbs-Sandiford admitted that she does in fact own a black CRV.
“Yes, I own a vehicle as any citizen of this country is entitled to. I am a very hardworking individual and I am an independent person,” she said.
In relation to FIU investigating her finances, the reporter of 13 years described that call as “totally absurd”, but she added: “I would welcome any probe. He could even file a complaint to the Integrity Commission if he wants.”
As to whether she felt intimidated by the attacks against her integrity by a politician, Gumbs-Sandiford said: “I would just like Mr Roberts to know that I am not intimidated by his boisterous approach. I am tougher than he even thinks.”
As to Roberts’ claims that he never spoke to her or commented as stated in her article, she explained that Roberts’ comment was solicited by one of her editors and was inserted into her story in the interest of “balance and fairness, and that is a normal practice”.
“It’s damned if you do and damned if you don’t, because I called him several times and even left a voice message, but he never responded,” she said.
