Rule of law functions

To be sure, it functions imperfectly and under many constraints. But the very fact that the rich and powerful have to go before the courts reveals that the will to do the right thing is there, even if that will gets stymied by other factors. And, although the Opposition UNC has already begun to plant red flags wherever they can, the laying of charges against Mr Khan undercuts much of the propaganda they have been trying to spread about certain police officers being in the pocket of the PNM and the Director of Public Prosecutions being similarly biased. Indeed, even if the Opposition’s arguments were not specious in the first instance, the rising sun glares rather brightly in their cocoa house.

Also, it is an open question whether the fraud charges will harm or help the ruling People’s National Movement. Only time will truly tell, but there are arguments for both outcomes.

Mr Khan is innocent until proven guilty, but the legal verdict of the trial may very well be irrelevant to the political verdict. Khan, after all, is not a low-ranking PNM member. He is that party’s chairman. As such, he represents the ethos of the political organisation in a way second only to the Political Leader. If he is found guilty, then this will set the taint of corruption that has been attached to the PNM since the days of Johnny O’ Halloran and then-party chairman Francis Prevatt. And, even if Mr Khan is cleared of all charges, there will still be questions as to how the PNM chairman allowed himself to get in the position where such charges, even if spurious, could be made.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Patrick Manning has won himself points for his handling of the matter. Having received the complaints and certain documents, he made some preliminary investigations and then turned the matter over to the Integrity Commission.

The Opposition criticised Mr Manning for delaying, but the Prime Minister is no doubt continually assailed with accusations whose only basis is political mischief. So some investigation was necessary and, unlike his predecessor Basdeo Panday, Mr Manning did not give blithe advice about taking allegations to the police. Instead, he took a pro-active stance, washing his hands of the affair once the Integrity Commission became involved.

This was the politically correct course of action, not least because Mr Manning has now put his political image in stark contrast to that of his opponent, Mr Panday. But it is not axiomatic that any political points Mr Manning has accrued would be passed on to the party. The Khan matter may well strengthen public perception that, when it comes to the two main political parties, it is six of one and a half-dozen of the next. But at least the same public now knows that allegations of corruption will have legal and political consequences. And, while that might be bad for the politicians, it is good for the nation.