Ganga: Lindquist on WASA case

OPPOSITION Chief Whip Ganga Singh yesterday provided information about alleged corruption at the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) to Canadian forensic investigator Bob Lindquist and Snr Supt Maurice Piggott of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). Speaking to reporters afterwards at Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday’s Port-of-Spain office, Singh said the two-hour long meeting went very well. While evasive on the details, the Chief Whip claimed there were WASA transactions in which significant sums of money were expended and he directed the investigators towards the alleged transactions. He said Lindquist shared his view that it was important to follow the flow of money. Singh believed that certain revelations would come to light from Lindquist’s investigations but, asked if this translated to charges being laid against individuals, the Chief Whip replied: “That is a matter within the realm of the police. I do not want to play policeman.”

Singh added that Lindquist and Piggott were provided with a set of documentation with guidance. Asked if there was a timetable for the investigations to be completed, Singh responded that there were several other persons to be interviewed by Lindquist and the ACB. As he left the meeting, Lindquist declined to speak to reporters about the status of the WASA investigations. Singh also revealed that he has since increased security at his home following former PNM MP Dr Joe Laquis’ threat to ban him from speaking publicly in the East-West Corridor.