Skippy: I was not paid to get Tobago hospital documents

The controversial documents intended to support allegations of impropriety against Housing Minister Dr Keith Rowley were given to a UNC political activist by an employee of NH International (Caribbean) Ltd (NHIC). The documents were then left at the office of the Opposition Leader for the attention of the Opposition Chief Whip. When he appeared before commissioners Annestine Sealey, Dr Chandrabhan Sharma and Eustace Hobson yesterday to give evidence into the allegations of impropriety against Rowley,  Junior Barrington Thomas, also called “Skippy,” denied that he had stolen the documents from the Scarborough Hospital project site and that he had been paid by Ganga Singh, or anyone else, to steal the documents.

NHIC’s senior Construction Manager, Roy Malchina  told the Commission on Tuesday he had heard that Thomas had been paid by Singh to steal the documents. Thomas said the documents were delivered to his home in Tobago by NHIC’s office manager at the Signal Hill site, Kamla Birbal. Birbal, who was the custodian of the documents, gave him the documents and a DVD.  He said the documents were contained in four cardboard binders. Thomas told the commission he brought the documents and the DVD to Trinidad and anonymously left them at the office of Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday for the attention of Ganga Singh. He said at the time the debate on the last budget was going on, and he felt that something as important as the transfer of materials from the hospital site to Landate should be brought to the fore.

According to Thomas, part of the footage on the DVD was of vehicles with NHIC logos and NHIC employees assigned to the hospital site delivering materials to the Landate site. He could not say when the DVD had been compiled, nor who had compiled it. Thomas was allowed to view part of the DVD in court for the purpose of identification, but despite attempts by Thomas’ attorney Robin Montano to have the DVD tendered into evidence, the commission decided against it. Thomas said he began working with project manager James Duffy on an NHIC project on April 1, 2003, as his (Duffy’s) personal assistant. On September 9, 2003, Thomas said he saw machinery, materials and workmen being “discreetly” transported from the hospital site to the Landate site without the knowledge of the architect. 

He said he discussed it with Duffy, who was angry about the issue. On one occasion, Thomas said, he was privy to a conversation between Duffy and John Canon regarding minimising the use of materials on “Rowley land,” as no profit was being made from it because it was a favour to the “chairman.” At another time, the witness said, he was present when Duffy objected when Rowley wanted to use an expensive filling at Landate at the cost of the Trinidad and Tobago Government. Thomas said Rowley became abusive and threatened to get rid of him (Duffy) from Trinidad and Tobago. According to Thomas, Rowley then admitted to giving “Elias that work.”

Under cross-examination by Rowley’s attorney Reginald Armour SC, Thomas denied that his motive for fabricating “a tissue of lies” was to “smear and sully” the minister’s name because he (Rowley) had verbally attacked him (Thomas) during the campaign leading up to the 2000 Tobago House of Assembly (THA) elections. Thomas had run for office on the UNC platform. According to Thomas, he had no knowledge of Rowley had referring to him as a “confirmed thief.” The commission is being represented by attorneys Trevor Lee SC, Andre des Vignes and Morris Valere.