Ganga: PNM ‘managing’ justice in TT

THE ISSUING of summonses for 15 persons connected to the Piarco Airport project is an attempt by the PNM to implement “political management of the criminal justice system.” This  accusation was levelled against the Government by Opposition Chief Whip Ganga Singh during debate on the Regional Health Authorities (Amendment) Bill 2004 in the House of Representatives on Friday.

On Thursday, senior officers said  15 persons were summoned and are to appear before the Anti-Corruption Squad with their attorneys. Singh accused Government of “contamination through publication” and attempting to villify persons who have not yet been charged with a criminal offence. He claimed this has been a pattern of the PNM “to build prejudice against people even before they are arrested.” The Chief Whip said it was vital that the police be independent and impartial in such matters but political interference by the Executive causes “the independence and impartiality of the Police Service to go by the wayside.” He wondered how Canadian forensic investigator Bob Lindquist could find no stolen monies at WASA but could instead “follow monies all over the place.”

On one occasion, Singh had to be cautioned by House Speaker Barry Sinanan about certain matters he was bringing up in his contribution. “That is not before the House,” Sinanan advised him. Singh said PNM vindictiveness against the Judiciary was also visible in allegations of a Government minister ordering criminal charges to be dropped against Barbadian fishermen. He added that the latter was now being investigated by the Director of   Public Prosecutions (DPP). Singh also claimed the PNM had a history of using legislation to entrench “their people.” “They support those who support them and to hell with the Constitution and the rule of law. This is incipient totalitariansim,” he declared. Oropouche MP Dr Roodal Moonilal agreed with Singh that UNC could not support the Act because the Opposition “adhered to the rule of law” in Trinidad and Tobago. Moonilal said it appears as if “Government can only be humbled in the courthouse” and advised the doctors to send a copy of a recent High Court judgment in favour of MPATT president Dr Colin Furlonge to the DPP to see whether any charges can be laid against Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Hamid O’Brian, under the nation’s integrity laws.