A political witch-hunt, says Moonilal

Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General Stuart Young, at a press conference on Thursday, said the lawsuit was claiming bribery, breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract against ten individuals including former HDC chairman Jearlean John and John Henckle Lall.

But speaking to reporters after the handing over of building materials to a Debe home-owner whose house had sustained damage in Tropical Storm Bret, Moonilal said government was prejudicing the matter in the public’s mind. “What we are witnessing here is raw, obscene political witch-hunting,” Moonilal said, adding, “I think it is improper for a minister of government to be in the public domain prosecuting a matter, as if he is in the court house, at a press conference and calling the names of public officers and insinuating conduct that is improper and pronouncing people to be guilty.

“This is unfair publicity to those persons whose names have been called. If they have evidence of any criminal wrongdoing they should take it to the police. And in this matter, I know there is no police involvement at all. it is a civil matter.” Speaking about the material distribution exercise, he said aid for the Oropouche community had arrived quicker from New York than from the government in Port of Spain.

“We are joining hands with an organisation in New York called Helping Hands. The diaspora in New York looked on with great concern with what happened in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Bret (and) they were extremely concerned about this area.

Helping Hands representative Ricardo Babulal said the scale of the destruction had been highlighted on the various social media platforms and efforts had been put in place to assist those communities which had been hardest hit by the storm.

Home-owner Wendy Deokie, of Wellington Road, Debe whose house had suffered partial roof damage, thanked the organisation for their help saying it would enable her to repair her damaged home. She was given materials such as ply wood and galvanize sheeting.