Bernard tells witness: I can do what I want

TEMPERS flared at the Commission of Inquiry into the Piarco Airport Development Project yesterday, resulting in former Security Manager at the Airports Authority (AA) Dennis John being reminded that failure to answer questions satisfactorily could draw a $2,000 fine. The warning from Commission Chairman Clinton Bernard followed John’s questioning of why Bernard was pointing his finger and threatening him. Bernard told John he could do anything he wanted. The exchange came after the Commission’s lead attorney, Theodore Guerra, SC, asked John to read a memo. John was looking at the last page of the memo and when told by Guerra he had to read from the front, he angrily replied: “You can’t tell me how to read.” On hearing the comment Bernard pointed his finger at John and warned him about the response, saying it was “out of place.” After John questioned why he was being “threatened.”Bernard forcefully reminded him that under Section 12 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, any witness who failed or refused without sufficient cause to satisfactory answer questions put to him was liable to a $2,000 fine on summary conviction. John apologised for his comment but insisted that Bernard not point his fingers at him. “I can do anything I want, if you have an objection you can take it elsewhere,” Bernard told him.
 
Bernard later said it was his habit to point his finger at people when speaking.John was recalled yesterday to give further evidence on the contract awarded by the AA to the Firearms Training Institute to service the firearms. He said the contract was “mysterious.” John confirmed that then Transition Manager at the AA, Brendan Carmody, sent him a memo dated March 13, 2000, about the contract to the Institute. That memo was also sent to AA Finance Manager Joshey Mahabir. In his letter, Carmody expressed concern about the contract. Carmody said that he had learnt that the Defence Force had initially serviced the firearms at no cost to the AA and they were willing to resume. Carmody told John the contract would not be extended unless he was otherwise convinced by John or Mahabir.  John insisted that he did not authorise the award of the contract, or approve payment to the Institute. He said he passed on the memo to his successor, Leo Reyes, to follow up. John said although he felt he had an obligation to respond to the memo, he could not. He said there was not enough time to research the matter  respond, because he was removed from the position two weeks later. Shown another memo in which a purchase order of $9,200 dated August 26, 1999, and signed by “D John” was made out to the Institute, John agreed he was the only person with that name but insisted he could not approve payments. When Bernard asked him if the order was a misrepresentation, John said he couldn’t say. Later he told his attorney Sean Cazabon that it was indeed incorrect. When shown another memo which he signed, in which the AA agreed to hire the Institute, John said he only signed the memo based on directives from his boss, Rampersad Hadaway. He said he found the memo unsatisfactory but still signed it. The inquiry ended early yesterday because of a break down in the air conditioning system. It will resume this morning at 9.30 am.