UNC concerned with Labidco investigation

THE United National Congress (UNC) has ex-pressed concern over the “slow pace” of investigations into the La Brea Industrial Development Company (Labidco), claiming that “over $120 million was spent by the PNM Government with no infrastructure to show for it.” In a media release last Friday, the Opposition stated that former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mark Mohammed, now a High Court Judge, “instructed that a criminal investigation be conducted ‘to determine whether, among other things, of-fences of conspiracy to defraud and misbehaviour in public office were revealed.’”

The UNC stated that Justice Mohammed referred the matter to the Commissioner of Police for investigation on May 9, 2002. “The UNC believes the police are dragging their feet on the matter while sensitive documents at the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, vital to the investigation, were commandeered by PNM agents and may now be outside of the reach of investigators,” the release stated. “This points to a massive cover-up involving agencies which are supposed to be independent,” the UNC release continued. The party also noted its concern with the apparent silence of the present DPP, adding that the ruling party “will use its power to intimidate the DPP and force the investigation on the back-burner. “We call on the DPP to resist political manipulation and re-assert his independence,” the UNC stated.