Local contractors cleared

A local project manager and all local contractors who worked on the Piarco Airport development project were yesterday exonerated from the Commission of Inquiry into the project. The manager, Krishendath Joe Ramkissoon, of Lee Young and Partners and the contractors, Thomas Peake and Company Ltd, Engineering Services Consortium, Electrical Trading Company Ltd, Damus Roofing Ltd and Jusamco Pavers Ltd were initially among the “subjects” of the inquiry. Yesterday they were summoned to appear before the Commission. Representing the respective companies were Paul Peake, George Butcher, Jadoonanan Seerattan and Dave Aqui together with their attorneys Deborah Peake, Denyse Gouveia, Joan Charles and Nalinee Sharma. Mr Sampath of Damus Roofing, who was represented by attorney Nyree Alfonso, was absent. Ramkissoon was represented by attorney Nathaniel King. When their names were called by Chairman Clinton Bernard, they were told that nothing adversely affecting them was mentioned at the Inquiry and therefore they were “completely exonerated.” They were all relieved from the Inquiry. Seereeram Brothers, another local contractor which was also involved in the project, was cleared earlier in the Inquiry. The only local contractor not cleared is Northern Construction Limited.

Also at yesterday’s sitting, Bernard complained about a story which appeared in the daily Express, which he claimed contained misinformation. Bernard took issue with a statement in the story which said that the Director of Public Prosecutions had cause to warn the Commission regarding its proceedings. Bernard repeated that the Commission has always maintained that its proceedings did not affect the criminal matters in the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court, where several persons were charged with offences arising out of the project. He stated categorically that the Commission was answerable to no one except the President, and the Director of Public Prosecutions  “cannot warn the Commission”. The Inquiry’s public hearings are expected to be completed by mid-July. The Commissioners have until August 31 to submit their report to President George Maxwell Richards. The inquiry will resume at 9.30 am today.