Plot unrevealed

If Police Commissioner Trevor Paul were being purely professional, he would have dismissed the allegations of self-proclaimed DEA associate Vernon Paul since last week. But, given that Vernon Paul’s allegations concerned high-ranking politicians, Commissioner Paul had to be circumspect as well. To do otherwise would surely have led to the Commissioner being accused of political favouritism. But by Friday, the CoP bluntly dismissed Vernon Paul’s credibility. But Vernon Paul was suspect from the start, as any objective person soon knew. In the first place,  his allegations that three senior PNM officials and one ex-Muslimeen had hatched the plot to frame former Works Minister Sadiq Baksh contradicted a story he had previously given a weekly newspaper, in which he claimed that the same plot was thought up by individuals from the UNC who wanted to undermine Mr Baksh.

In the second place, Vernon Paul’s claim to be an associate of the United States Drug Enforcement Agency has been dismissed by the US embassy here and, according to Commissioner Paul, by the DEA as well. In the third place, Paul, as the CoP pointed out, has produced absolutely no evidence to back up his very serious allegations. Indeed, he failed to provide this newspaper with signed copies of documents after promising to do so. And, last but not least, anyone who heard Vernon Paul on the electronic media would not have been impressed by his rambling account and self-aggrandising manner.

So Commissioner Paul was quite right to say, “While the matter is worthy of investigation, the police will not be sidetracked by individuals who wish to play games with what can be a grave issue.” After all, it remains a fact that cocaine and missiles were found in the water tank at Mr Baksh’s house. It is important to solve this crime purely on its basis as an illegal act. But it is perhaps even more important that this crime be solved because of its political implications. And so the police certainly cannot waste time and money on a wild goose chase with the likes of Vernon Paul.

If the PNM was indeed involved in a plot to discredit UNC politicians in the run-up to a general election, then the Opposition has, quite correctly, described such a plot as a fundamental attack on the country’s democracy. On the other hand, if we were to place any credence on Vernon Paul’s initial story, then the same accusation is true that it was the UNC who were behind the alleged plot. But it is Paul’s lack of credibility which offers a possible silver lining on this whole mess: that there was, in fact, no plot and that the nation’s politicians have not descended to such low tactics in their desire to gain office.

Unfortunately, the fact is that no one, save the persons involved,  knows what actually happened. And, although we hope the police investigations make headway,  the odds are against it given the nature of the crime and the length of time which has already passed. What may be more revealing about our political culture in the immediate future will be how the politicians on both sides treat with this issue. Will each side attempt to demonise the other, despite the hollowness of Vernon Paul’s allegations? Or will they let the issue rest while the investigations are underway? Given the low estimate which citizens have of both political parties, this would make political sense. But, as in so many other issues, the calculus of our politicians does not always seem to provide sensible answers.