Humphrey ready for all

FORMER UNC Housing Minister John Humphrey appeared before the Commission of Inquiry into the Piarco Airport Project yesterday ready to question witnesses who implicated him. He was adamant that he did not need an attorney, but was eventually told one would be appointed for him to ensure fairness and for his own protection.

However, former Finance Minister Brian Kuei Tung, who was also summoned to appear yesterday, did not appear. Attorney Reginald Armour appeared on his behalf  to seek an adjournment, saying the diskettes containing the transcripts implicating Kuei Tung were only given to him on Tuesday, and he had no time to peruse them or to be instructed by Kuei Tung. Chairman Clinton Bernard scolded Kuei Tung for not appearing personally before the Commission, pointing out to Armour that he had a duty to appear. Bernard excused Kuei Tung “on this occasion”, after agreeing to adjourn the matter to next Wednesday.

In relation to Humphrey’s matter, which was adjourned to March 26 after the Commission took the precaution of deciding to appoint an attorney for him, Humphrey told the Commission he was ready to proceed although he did not have the transcripts. He explained that he had received the diskettes but did not have a computer. Humphrey, wearing a ponytailed hairstyle, returned the diskettes to the Commission saying he had no use for them. He opted to proceed with his questioning of the witnesses based on information he had seen on live television coverage of the Inquiry and read in the newspapers. But lead attorney for the Commission, Theodore Guerra SC, pointed out that it would not be in the best interest of Humphrey to rely on his memory and newspaper reports.

Guerra submitted that those reports would be different to the actual evidence given, and he did not want Humphrey in “his enthusiasm and willingness to assist the Inquiry to put himself in any position from which he cannot retrieve himself from later on”. Guerra said to be fair to Humphrey, in spite of all his qualifications, he was “not competent in this area” and he pleaded with Humphrey to rethink his stance to proceed without an attorney. Humphrey insisted there was no need to wait, because he didn’t think it would take long to question the Director of the Town and Country Planning Division, Carol Smart.

He further expressed the view that “at this point” he didn’t need legal representation and if  in future he needed advice he would request it. He had to be reminded that allegations of wrong doing were made against him by several witnesses, but a very persistent Humphrey said he didn’t think there were allegations against him, based on what he had seen. Guerra, in a last effort to convince Humphrey, submitted that the Commission had to “protect him from himself” because if he made a mistake later, the Commission would be blamed. Guerra said Humphrey might be blinded by his emotions and therefore needed a “dispassionate mind”.  Guerra asked that the Commissioners warn Humphrey strongly to reconsider his position because it seemed it was his “will to cast himself into a pit”.

Bernard then told Humphrey the Commission would not allow him to act on his own behalf and would appoint an attorney for him, whether he liked it or not. Humphrey then tried to give a document to the Commissioners to “help the professionals”, but was told that was evidence and would be submitted in due course. Bernard also warned witnesses who were not present to be questioned that summonses would be issued to them. The Inquiry will resume tomorrow at 9.30 am.