Military to make amends

Last week Thursday, the Defence Force issued an apology to Maharaj for wrongly ascribing blame to him for civilians, namely children of Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, being allowed onto off-limit areas at Camp Cumuto and to hold Defence Force owned and commissioned machineguns last October.

This inaccurate finding was contained in a report issued by a Board of Inquiry which was constituted to investigate the breach of military rules after Opposition MP Roodal Moonilal waved photos of the AG’s children posing with the weapons during a sitting of the Lower House last October.

Maharaj, who from day one, has strenuously denied ever giving any permission to the AG or anyone else to have civilians enter Camp Cumuto sought under the Freedom of Information Act, to get a copy of the Board of Inquiry’s report.

On April 25, then Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier General Rodney Smart, by letter, stated, “It was established that the former Chief of Defence Staff Major General Kenrick Maharaj, acting on his own volition, authorised the range practice.” The TTDF subsequently set up a Board of Inquiry to investigate.

Maharaj last week Thursday, received a response from Lt Col Sheldon Ramnanan, which stated, “The record of proceedings of the Board of Inquiry did not name you, Major General Kenrick Maharaj, nor did it state that you had any knowledge of the subject range practice and or that you granted approval for same to be conducted.

The Defence Force sincerely apologises for any inconvenience and or embarrassment caused to you by the aforementioned.” Contacted for comment last week, Maharaj said, “the responses did not meet my expectations and I have chosen to reserve comment until I decide my next move.” Newsday understands that over the weekend, Captain Pritchard reached out to Maharaj on his return from Miami and agreed to provide a more comprehensive response to his (Maharaj) request for a copy of the report of proceedings of the Board of Enquiry.

Sources revealed that Captain Pritchard apologised verbally to Maharaj.