Ish no longer taking part in inquiry

THE APPEARANCE of Ish Galbaransingh at the Commission of Inquiry into the Piarco Airport Project proved to be anti-climatic yesterday as his attorneys told the Commission he was no longer taking part because the proceedings were “fundamentally flawed”.

Galbaransingh withdrew from the proceedings after his attorneys, Reginald Armour and Devesh Maharaj, were not allowed to make a submission. Chairman Clinton Bernard categorically said “no” to the request several times, indicating that the Commission’s procedural rules did not allow it. Galbaransingh is the principal of Northern Construction Limited (NCL), which received a number of contracts on the project. Galbaransingh appeared before the Commission last week Thursday based on a summons issued to him. He was due to question witnesses who have implicated him in the project. He was due to reappear yesterday, but failed to show up. Instead Armour told the Commission Galbaransingh was not present because he was advised to await their call. Armour then sought to make a submission, but was denied by Bernard.

Bernard told Armour the inquiry’s procedural rules did not provide for such submissions to be made and advised him that he should question David Scott. Scott is the principal of Scott Architects Associates Inc (SAAI) who returned to Trinidad earlier this week from Canada to be questioned by the attorneys of persons he had implicated in his evidence. Armour was asked by Bernard what the submission was about. He said it was based on his view that the “proceedings were fundamentally flawed”. But Bernard did not entertain Armour. He stated emphatically that on the last occasion Armour appeared, in September 2001, he attempted to adopt the same course and was told at that time that he could not make a statement. Armour said he couldn’t understand how he could be denied yesterday, when his submission wasn’t heard. Bernard interrupted to ask: “Are you prepared to ask questions of Mr Scott?” Armour replied: “Not until I give my submission and have a ruling.” Bernard ruled: “No!” Armour said, in the circumstances, Galbaransingh would not participate in the proceedings. Bernard then recalled Wayne Mohammed, the keeper of the records, to put on record the procedure adopted with Galbaransingh as it pertained to the letters and summonses sent to him.

Armour later asked to make an application that the inquiry not proceed further because the February 6 summons to Galbaransingh was ultra vires the terms of the Inquiry and biased. The application was overruled after Justin Phelps, attorney for the Commission, said the summons had worn itself off because Galbaransingh had appeared. Attorney Nyree Alfonso, who appeared for Tyrone Gopee, former Chairman of the Airports Authority (AA), told the Commission after perusal of the transcripts of the evidence of Jude Alibey, the former Transition Manager, she had no questions for Alibey. She said the evidence was of little evidential value as it related to Gopee. However, Sean Cazabon who represents Dennis John, the former AA Security Manager, questioned Alibey. Alibey denied that he side-stepped John and dealt with his subordinate, Inspector Reyes, on matters relating to security of the terminal. Alibey insisted that John had advised him to liaise with Reyes and denied that after his team’s three month contract ended, security matters were returned to John. Alibey said the matters were never taken from John.

Sittings will resume on March 10.