Airport Inquiry — Week in Review

The Commission of Inquiry into the Piarco airport project has entered its second phase. That is the phase where persons who were implicated by the evidence of witnesses are summoned to appear to challenge the evidence by cross examination, direct evidence or by calling supporting witnesses.

Monday
Major players
summoned

MAJOR companies involved in the Piarco Airport Development Project were summoned to appear before the Commission of Inquiry during the week. Birk Hillman Consultants (BHC), project consultants and designers of the airport were summoned to appear on Tuesday. Calmaquip Engineering, which got the contract for CP13 to supply specialty equipment was summoned for Wednesday and Fidelity Finance and Maritime General Insurance was summoned to appear on Thursday. Maritime provided the bonds for Northern Construction Ltd (NCL).
NCL was summoned to appear on Monday but failed to show up.

Tuesday
BHC a no show — and
tempers flare

BIRK Hillman Consultants (BHC) on Tuesday failed to show at the Inquiry although lawyers for the company sent a fax to the Commission acknowledging receipt of its summons. It is believed that BHC will not take part in the Inquiry, which is expected to end in July. When BHC was called no one appeared on its behalf. Lead attorney for the Commission Theodore Guerra, SC informed the Commission that the company was served a summons which BHC’s attorney had acknowledged receipt through a fax letter to the Commission. Guerra was stopped from disclosing the contents of the fax by Chairman Clinton Bernard. At the start of the inquiry last year attorney Bruce Procope QC appeared for BHC. Witnesses who implicated BHC during their evidence were told to be on “stand by” for Wednesday, in case BHC has a change of heart. Also on Tuesday Dennis John, the former Airports Authority Security Manager returned to the witness stand to be questioned by Guerra in a session which caused tempers to flare and John to again be warned about the $2,000 fine under the Commission of Inquiry Act for not fully answering questions. John also complained that the Commissioners had frowned on his way of speaking. But Bernard explained that was because he had been rude to Guerra, and impertinent to the Chair. John maintained that he never saw the contract awarded to the Firearms Training Institute and the only reason he signed claims approving money to the Institute was because he was acting on the instructions of his boss, Rampersad Hadaway.

Wednesday
Calmaquip/BHC given 14 days to respond

BIRK Hillman Consultants (BHC) and Calmaquip Engineering have been given 14 days to provide written responses to evidence given at the Inquiry. Both firms were summoned to appear before the inquiry on Wednesday and on Tuesday. BHC’s attorney is Bruce Procope, QC while Calmaquip is represented by attorneys Russell Martineau, SC and Avory Sinanan. Although the companies’ officials failed to appear in person,  letters to the Commission from their attorneys indicated their willingness to respond to the evidence by written statements.

Thursday
Maritime complains
of prejudice

THE ATTORNEY for Maritime General Insurance Company Limited and Fidelity Finance and Leasing Company Limited, accused the Commission on Thursday of being prejudicial and unfair.  Vernon De Lima also insisted that the companies, which are “under the gun in the criminal matter,” will not get a fair trial. The companies are charged jointly with several other persons for criminal offences relating to the Piarco project. De Lima voiced his accusations to the Commissioners when he appeared on behalf of the companies at Thursday’s sitting, when the companies were summoned to appear. In the midst of  De Lima’s complaints, Chairman Clinton Bernard pounded his gavel several times in an effort to stop him. Bernard repeatedly asked De Lima if he was prepared to question the witnesses who had implicated the companies, and told De Lima “we will not allow you to say that”. He also told De Lima nothing at the inquiry affected the criminal matters.

Friday
In camera session

THE 164th sitting of the Inquiry on Friday lasted just over an hour but no evidence was taken. The session was held “in camera” where former NIPDEC Chairman Edward Bayley’s attorneys made submissions. Bayley is represented by attorneys Sonny Maharaj SC and Stuart Young. The inquiry is expected to wrap up in early July. So far 66 persons have given evidence.