Minister quits

Yesterday’s resignation of Works and Transport Minister Franklin Khan from the Cabinet swiftly followed on the heels of allegations of bribery and corruption against Khan and Energy Minister, Eric Williams.

April 16: Newspaper report that Prime Minister Patrick Manning had sent to the Integrity Commission, the names of two Cabinet Ministers against whom allegations of bribery had been made.

April 27: The story began to unfold when Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar read an undated letter to the Parliament. The letter, which was reportedly sent to Prime Minister Patrick Manning by Mayaro/Rio Claro Regional Corporation PNM Councillor Dansam Dhansook, alleged that he (Dhansook) had paid bribes to Khan and Williams in connection with contracts for a seismic survey for a proposed oil pipeline in the Ortoire/Mayaro constituency.

Immediately after Persad-Bissessar made the statement, Williams rose in the Parliament and categorically denied the allegation. That same afternoon, speaking to reporters outside the chamber, Khan also emphatically denied the claims.

April 28: The media was summoned to two press conferences at Crowne Plaza by Dhansook.  Both were cancelled without explanation. Reports stated that the press conference had been arranged by Ambassador Plenipotentiary, Jerry Narace.  This was promptly denied by Narace, who stated that all he did was put Dhansook and Matthew Pierre in touch with an advertising agency to arrange the press conference.

April 29: Both Khan and Williams held a press conference at the Red House again denying Dhansook’s allegations. They produced an affidavit sworn to by Dhansook dated July 6, 2004, in which Dhansook apologised and retracted the allegations of bribery that he made against the ministers. The affidavit, which was allegedly prepared at the Port-of-Spain office of attorney Clive Phelps, was reportedly sworn to in the presence of Justice of the Peace Dennis Jackman.

In his address to the media, Khan lamented the betrayal of his confidence by Dhansook, whom he considered a friend. Khan had explained that the copies of six cheques totalling $120,500 made payable to him, were repayments for money he had loaned Dhansook in 2002. Copies of the cheques had reportedly accompanied the letter of allegations sent to the Prime Minister in support of Dhansook’s bribery claims. Khan said he had declared those loan payments to the Integrity Commission.

May 1: Newspaper report quote Dhansook as saying he had sworn to the July 6, 2004 affidavit under duress. Dhansook, who was reportedly taken to Phelps’ office by Khan, was quoted as saying that Khan had told him that his (Dhansook’s) signature on the document would put an end to a probe into the matter by the Integrity Commission.

May 4: Dhansook is fearful for his life and that of his family and asks for police protection.
May 8: Newspaper report alleged a taped telephone conversation between Narace and Dhansook.
May 8: Narace alleged the conversation was “doctored.”
May 8: Minister Khan resigns from Cabinet.
May 8: Minister Williams stands by his denial made in Parliament.