Dear Editor,
The questioning of four top politicians from the opposition PPP/C two weeks ago raised eyebrows and members of the public want to know if there is any merit since one of those being questioned, Gail Teixeira, told a news conference that the move is aimed at threatening and intimidating PPP members of Parliament. The other three are former Prime Minister Sam Hinds, former Minister Irfaan Ali, and Nigel Dharamlall.
The public has not heard anything from the DPP, the police or from any other law enforcement agency. We have been hearing for a very long time even before elections ‒ about massive corruption by the PPP/C, but it seems as if law enforcement officers cannot yet come up with concrete evidence to prosecute anyone other than former Minister Jennifer Westford and her Chief Personnel Officer Margaret Cummings.
The region is known to make allegations against politicians; most of them are without merit.
We have heard reports of about massive fraud by the Vere Bird and Lester Bird administrations in Antigua and Barbuda, as well as the Denzil Douglas government in St Kitts and Nevis. Prime Minister Keith Mitchell of Grenada was also accused by the public of not operating above board. However, despite these constant rumours not one of them has been brought before the courts for any wrongdoing even after the change of government. Is it that these allegations are baseless and without merit? Some, maybe only a few, feel that politicians cover for each other regardless of party affiliation.
However in Trinidad and Tobago, former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday was charged for failing to declare a London bank account to the authorities. He was sentenced to two years imprisonment, and spent a night in jail because he refused to post bail. His conviction was later quashed by the Court of Appeal on March 20, 2007.
In dependent territories it is different because the Brits do not take corruption or other wrongdoing lightly. They investigate thoroughly and take drastic action. The trial of former Premier Michael Misick and eight former ministers of the Turks and Caicos government who are accused of corruption, is now underway before a judge and jury at Providenciales. Misick who tried to evade prosecution fled to Brazil and he was later deported to TCI to face trial. The prosecution intends to call 130 witnesses include Misick’s former wife, model Lisa Raye.
Over in Cayman Islands, the former Premier, McKeeva Bush, was charged with 11 counts of misconduct in public office, but he was acquitted in October 2014 after a jury which deliberated for five hours found him not guilty.
In Montserrat a former Chief Minister, David Brandt, an attorney, is now facing rape charges.
Yours faithfully,
Oscar Ramjeet
