Talisman welcomes Canadian govt probe

Talisman (Trinidad) Petroleum Ltd (Talisman’s local subsidiary) country manager Des Norris told Newsday that Talisman has nothing to hide and the Opposition was free to write the Canadian government if it wished, and Talisman would welcome an investigation of its operations that Canadian authorities may wish to undertake. Norris said as far as he was aware, the Opposition has not yet written to the Canadian government. Efforts to contact Singh for comment were unsuccessful.

Norris said Talisman "completely denies these allegations." "We have conducted all our activities, including dealings with government officials, in an ethical, professional and transparent manner and will continue to do so. Talisman has made a long term commitment to Trinidad and its people, and sound ethics are fundamental to how we do business," he said.

Norris added, "We know of no basis by which Talisman or any of its employees should be drawn into these matters and it is disappointing that our integrity has been put into question." He reiterated that Talisman remains committed to TT and hopes that its continuing exploration programme will be successful and create value for the people of TT.

Energy giant bpTT and local seismic contractor Maranatha Geophysical Services Ltd (which Energy Minister Eric Williams chaired prior to his entry into Government) have also denied corruption allegations made against them by the UNC. Both companies have said that Williams had resigned from Maranatha prior to entering Government in 2001 and has had no involvement in Maranatha’s affairs since then.

Williams and former Works and Transport Minister Franklin Khan have strongly denied allegations made against them by PNM councillor Dansam Dhansook. Those allegations were first made public on April 27, when Opposition MP for Siparia Kamla Persad-Bissessar read in Parliament a letter Dansam Dhansook wrote to Prime Minister Patrick Manning making allegations that he had bribed both Khan and Williams. The Prime Minister has referred the matter to the Integrity Commission for investigation.

Contacted by Newsday on Monday and asked to respond to allegations that continue to be made against him, Williams said, "I am not speaking right now." Williams was scheduled to deliver the feature address at a bpTT and Landmark Graphics function at UWI’s Faculty of Engineering in St Augustine yesterday. On Sunday, the PNM General Council passed a resolution putting the whole issue of Dhansook’s political future in the hands of Manning. Dhansook said he would abide by whatever decision the party takes regarding his political future.