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. The Commission has sat for 132 days. There was no sitting on Friday because of the unavailability of witnesses. Sittings will resume tomorrow at 9.30 am.

Monday
Humphrey to testify

FORMER UNC Hous-ing Minister John Hum-phrey, who was Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee overseeing the Piarco airport development project, will begin giving his account of what transpired on the project on Tuesday. Humphrey’s attorney Sean Cazabon ended his questioning of witnesses who implicated Hum-phrey in the project on Monday. Humphrey has decided to take the witness stand to further defend himself of any wrongdoing. On Monday, Cazabon questioned former Trans-port Minister Jearlean John, who said although she had read things about the project in the newspapers prior to becoming Minister with responsibility for the project, she did not attend the first site meeting with “preconceived notions”.

However, she admitted that what she had read was “concretised” after she got the impression there were close relationships between members of the Inter-Ministerial Committee, client representative Peter Cateau and contractors. John also confirmed that when she went to her first site meeting on January 18, 2001, she was not apprised of what was going on by Humphrey.  She disagreed with Cazabon that it was fair to expect Humphrey to continue as usual. John said if a new professional was included on the project, it was only correct and proper that the person be apprised.  She said it might not have been the function of Humphrey to apprise her and she wouldn’t lay blame at his feet. John agreed that at a February 8, 2001, meeting, Humphrey announ-ced the Committee had been disbanded and she was fully in charge of the project. Asked if Hum-phrey handed over all the documents relating to the project to her, John said she couldn’t recall.

Tuesday
Humphrey admits to concern about Piarco costs

FORMER Housing Minister John Hum-phrey, who acted as Prime Minister in the UNC government, on Tuesday had to be stopped from making allegations against the Deyalsingh Committee which also held an inquiry into the Piarco airport development project. He also urged members of the public to come forward and say what they knew about the project, and expres-sed nagging concern about not knowing the final cost of the project. Humphrey’s said the information he received when he acted as PM on one occasion “coloured (later) decisions of Cabinet”.
Humphrey said he had doubts about stopping the project, because he felt the original way it was going was the correct approach. He said the project was on time and within budget but Panday was under severe pressure from the media and other interest groups to abort the airport project and therefore he supported Panday.

Wednesday
Part of Humphrey’s evidence struck out

Chairman Clinton Bernard on Wednesday announced that the Com-mission will expunge certain evidence given by former Housing Minister John Humphrey on Tuesday. Humphrey alleged that while he was acting Prime Minister he re-ceived certain information from a member of the Deyalsingh Commit-tee which had conducted an inquiry into the Piarco project.

Thursday
No evidence due to mix-up

NO evidence was taken on Thursday at the 132nd sitting of the Inquiry because of a mix-up. Peter Cateau was told to appear for questioning by NIPDEC’s attorney Christopher Hamel-Smith. However Hamel-Smith at the start of the sitting at 10.40 am, indicated he could offer no explanation why the Commis-sion was expecting him to question Cateau be-cause he wasn’t ready.  He said he understood the Commission had to get on with its job, but apologised for the mix-up. As a result Cateau would return on May 7 to be questioned. The sitting began late on Thursday because the Commission was accommodating Cateau’s attorney Keith Scotland. However Scotland’s junior, Dawn Mohan, instead appeared, ex-plaining that Scotland was still engaged in a High Court matter from which he would be relieved on May 6.