Ferguson claims ‘victimisation’ in State’s move to freeze $M account

Steve Ferguson, one of the accused in the Piarco Airport project is claiming that Government’s efforts to explore and probe his Liechtenstein account is motivated by political and racial discrimination. Liechtenstein is a tiny principality in Central Europe. The State had obtained an order from the Liechtenstein court to freeze the account, said to contain US$1.3 million, and to inspect its records. But in his move to block the State, Ferguson has joined forces with another accused Raul Guttierez. Both men in an afffidavit, are also claiming that they are the “indirect victims” of a  political and racial struggle between the former UNC government and the ruling PNM.

In the joint affidavit, Ferguson and Guttierez are insisting that  the bank account is the product of entirely legitimate transactions. Guttierez and Ferguson “expressly object (to the proposition) that the funds used to finance the participation of the defendant in Calmaquip are stemming from doubtful or criminal sources,” the affidavit stated. In the affidavit, which was filed in the German language, Guttierez and Ferguson also “unanimously declared that the present procedure is politically motivated.” They claimed that they were “indirect victims of political struggles between the new and old governments of the applicant (the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago).” “Hereto it is necessary to know that the population is partly of African and of Indian origin. The former government was in its majority formed of representatives of the Indian population whereas the new government consists in its majority of representatives of the African population,” the affidavit stated.

Ferguson and Guttierez also stated that neither Guttierez nor Calmaquip Miami had in any way offered or taken bribes. “Calmaquip has fulfilled its current contract and is at present engaged in arbitration procedures with the applicant (the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago) for the purpose of receiving owed but not yet paid outstanding amounts,” the document said. Ferguson and Guttierez were originally due to appear on July 29 in the Princely District Court of Liechtenstein, to put in their defence. However, it is understood they have asked for a postponement. Sources yesterday asked why Ferguson, who initally denied that he had an account in Liechtenstein, should be going through all this trouble and expense to prevent the examination of an account.

The State had applied for the freeze order after discovering that Ferguson had transferred US$1.3 million from an account in the Bahamas to a new back account in Liechtenstein, shortly after being charged with conspiracy. The claim of political victimisation is also being used as a defence by another accused, Ishwar Galbaransingh, in the move to block the State from procuring information on bank accounts and using this as evidence in the prosecution. Galbaransingh filed a constitutional motion in the Bahamas “seeking the protection of the court against the infringement of my constitutional rights” and “the harassment and persecution directed against me because of my political views and affiliations.” Ferguson, Guttierez and Galbaransingh are all before the courts on charges of conspiring to defraud the AATT and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago of millions of dollars during the Piarco project.

Attorney General John Jeremie signalled Government’s intention to keep the funds of all the accused in the Piarco matter within easy reach, in the hope of eventually repatriating it. Jeremie stated earlier this month, “I have instructed the legal team to pursue this matter until all the proceeds of the Piarco International Airport project crime are returned to the people of Trinidad and Tobago.” Jeremie said it was alleged that some of the money obtained by the fraudulent activities by those in the Piarco project were diverted to several bank accounts owned by shell companies in various jurisdictions.