Dhansook: I am cool, man

He said he could not take an interview then, saying he was busy speaking to someone, and he then hung up the phone. When Sunday Newsday called later, he seemed annoyed and brusquely said: "What’s your problem?!".

When asked about the UNC’s call for him to be given police protection, Dhansook said: "What protection can your offer?" He then hung up, again. Allegations are Dhansook paid a $75,000 bribe to Minister of Energy, Eric Williams, and a bribe to Minister of Works, Franklin Khan, over a seismic survey for an oil-pipeline, although both ministers have denied the charges. Yesterday confusion reigned as to Dhansook’s actual whereabouts.

When we called his Mayaro home a woman said he had just left to see his lawyer in San Fernando, yet when we called him on his cell-phone he claimed to be up in Matelot, near Toco. So despite what Dhansook may have wished, the controversy continued to rage around him, with the fire being stoked further by Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

She said the allegation of bribery against two Government Ministers is such a serious matter that it cannot be dismissed lightly after the mere presentation of an alleged affidavit.

She insisted on a full investigation of Dhansook’s charge that he paid a $75,000 bribe to Minister of Energy, Eric Williams, (whom he said later threatened his life), plus a bribe to Minister of Works, Franklin Khan, a charge both Ministers have denied.

Persad-Bissessar had on Wednesday revealed the allegation by reading out a letter allegedly written by Dansook to Prime Minister Patrick Manning in the House of Representatives.

But on Friday Khan and Williams produced an affidavit allegedly written by Dhansook recanting the charges, while earlier that day Dhansook failed to show at a media conference arranged for him at Crowne Plaza.

But yesterday neither Khan nor Dhansook was willing to shed any more light on the affair, but seemed to be ducking the media. The matter is still before the Integrity Commission, having been referred by Prime Minister Patrick Manning who returns to Trinidad today.

Persad-Bissessar told Sunday Newsday: "I’m still of the view the matter should be investigated, affidavits or no affidavits. The matter is too serious."

She wanted an investigation by more than just the Integrity Commission, which the Opposition has charged was a biased body.

She said: "The allegations are so serious that they warrant a proper investigation by the authorities like the Anti-Corruption Bureau".

Given the seriousness of the charge by a man claiming to have bribed two Ministers, she said there must be an investigation and a proper conclusion to the matter.

"Someone must be held culpable," she warned.

Persad-Bissessar was concerned about the irregularities in the case, including the fact that Dhansook unexpectedly failed to show at a press conference organised for him at an expensive hotel using a top public relations firm, and that the defence of Khan and Williams was a year-old document.

She said: "I call on the Prime Minister to do the right thing and send it to the Anti-Corruption Bureau for proper investigation".

Otherwise, yesterday the affair just became more and more muddled.

Neither Dhansook nor Khan took the opportunity to clear up questions which had arisen over the veracity of each of them.

Sunday Newsday wanted to know why had Dhansook twice failed to show at a media conference arranged for him by fellow councillor Matthew Pierre using a top advertising agency, CMB Limited, at Crowne Plaza?

We were only able to speak to Dhansook for a few seconds each time we called before he hung up.

Sunday Newsday also wanted to know why the letter making the accusations and the affidavits which recanted the charges, both allegedly issued by Dhansook, bore two different types of handwriting?

Why were Khan and Williams basing their defence on an affidavit which was nine months old?

Sunday Newsday telephoned Franklin Khan’s Mayaro home and spoke to his wife who said he was indisposed and unable to take our call. She promised to give him our message and she reassured us he would call us. He never did. Later Sunday Newsday repeatedly called his home but the phone just rang. His cell-phone was set on voice-mail mode. We left messages asking him to call us, but he did not.

Sunday Newsday was unable to contact commissioner of affidavits, Dennis Jackman to check the veracity of the affidavits which bore his stamp.

The issue is still before the Integrity Commission, although critics say Prime Minister Patrick Manning sent it there to be killed off instead of investigated in an open forum.

Sunday Newsday checked Khan’s claim on Friday that he had told the Integrity Commission of Dhansook’s repayments to him of a personal loan.

In his statement of registrable interests, Khan had included in his declared income the words "loan repayments — personal," although it was vague and did not specify details.