UNC seeks answers on Jamaat deals

UNC SENATOR Dr Tim Gopeesingh yesterday named five government ministers whom he said were implicated by a recent affidavit of Jamaat-al-Muslimeen leader Yasin Abu Bakr.

Gopeesingh was speaking in the Senate on the anti-crime motion of Independent Senator Prof Ramesh Deosaran. The affidavit was recently filed in reply to the State’s application to sell off assets of Jamaat members to pay a $30 million debt owed for the destruction of Police Headquarters and damage to the Red House during the attempted coup of July 1990.

In the document, Bakr claimed his group campaigned for the PNM in the general elections in exchange for the PNM dropping the State’s claim for compensation.

As he began to read the affidavit, Gopeesingh solemnly said, “I’ve been advised from one of the men indicted, that he was involved with the People’s National Movement. Lennox Phillips otherwise known as Abu Bakr...” At this point, the Government members started laughing.

Complaining about the use of the affidavits Public Administration Minister Dr Lenny Saith, said, “It’s not proper.” UNC Senator Wade Mark replied, “but it’s a public document.”

Senate Vice-President Rawle Titus ruled that the fact the affidavit had been published, doesn’t mean it has no bearing on the court case. Mark grumbled.

Dropping his “bombshell”, Gopeesingh declared, “we would like to know the role of Joan Yuille-Williams, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Lenny Saith, Mr Manning and Mrs Manning.”

Saith rose in protest, saying: “I read the affidavit and don’t recall my name appearing.” But Mark countered: “Your name’s here.” Waving the paper and grinning broadly, Mark taunted, “Joan!”

Gopeesingh said the document was proof that the PNM was in bed with the Jamaat. He had other concerns over crime. Six months after the Government’s Police Reform Bills were passed in Parliament with Opposition backing, nothing more has happened, Gopeesingh charged.

He blamed Government for the country’s high level of crime saying there were 1,240 murders under the PNM compared to 788 under the UNC regime.

He added that 158 kidnappings took place under the PNM, compared to six under the UNC.

Gopeesingh said certain “untouchables” were behind organised crime. “They exist among us all.” He said those persons were now responsible for having pushed up the price of a house beyond the reach of a young working couple.

“The underworld economy is larger than the formal economy of $34 billion.”

Gopeesingh called for the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) to be given some control over policing in Tobago. “Crime is killing Tobago!”

He claimed the interest promoted in Trinidad and Tobago by the success of the Soca Warriors was offset by the negative travel advisories issued about this country by the UK and USA.

He then pointed out shortcomings of the TT Police Service including the Special Anti-Crime Unit’s (SAUTT) seizure of a mere seven kilos of narcotics, ten firearms and 331 bullets. Declaring that the Government was incapable of fighting crime, Gopeesingh called on Joseph to “do the honourable thing.”