Jeremie has 1 Westmoorings house

Cassel ran out of witnesses yesterday after Assistant Commissioner of Police Wellington Virgil testified before Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls in the Port-of-Spain Eighth Magistrates’ Court.

Panday is charged with making a false declaration to the Integrity Commission in that he failed to declare his Nat West bank account for the years 1997, 1998, and 1999.

But today will not be a wasted day. Mc Nicolls agreed that Panday’s lead attorney Allan Newman QC will make his submission that it is an abuse of process to prosecute Panday while many other persons failed to file declarations, or made false declarations.

Cassel promised that his witnesses will testify tomorrow, while Newman indicated that Panday will present evidence on Friday, leaving next Monday for final addresses before Mc Nicolls is left with a decision on the submission and/or the verdict.

Yesterday, Albert Alkins, Registrar of the Integrity Commission, returned to the witness box with his homework. He had been given an assignment by Newman to search his records on several persons in public life who had failed to file a Statement of Registrable Interests.

With respect to Attorney General John Jeremie, Alkins said the 2003 declaration of income, assets and liabilities was not consistent with his statement of registrable interests. Alkins said the Commission wrote to Jeremie.

Alkins said in Jeremie’s statement, he had not referred to the house and land he owned at Westmoorings. He said the Commission wrote to the AG asking him if he was the owner of a house and land at Westmoorings. He said the AG replied, correcting the omission.

But Newman was not satisfied. He wanted to know if Jeremie was the owner of a house or houses at Westmoorings. He wanted Alkins to go back and check his records. “Maybe, Mr John Jeremie may have had a particularly bad memory. He had not fully complied with his obligation with respect of the statement of registrable interests.”

Questioned further, Alkins said there was no investigation into Jeremie’s omission. “It wasn’t referred to anyone to investigate. He was not prosecuted, he did not stand in the dock.” In the end, it was agreed that Jeremie had one house in Westmoorings.

Newman then turned to former Attorney General Glenda Morean, now High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. He said Morean did not file a declaration for 2003. He said people who held public office from December 12, 2003 were obligated to file declarations.

Alkins agreed that Morean was appointed AG on October 10, 2002, she took the oath of office as Senator on October 17, 2002, and she stayed there until November 9, 2003. He said the Commission took a view that it was only persons who held public office from December 12, 2003 should file declarations. He said Morean demitted office before that date. As far as he was concerned, Morean committed no breach of the Act.

Newman then focused on State Board officials. Alkins said that Kenneth Gordon, chairman of First Citizens Holdings Ltd did not file a statement of registrable interests for 2004. Ronald Nurse, chairman of MTS filed for 2004, forcing Newman to say he was wrong about this one.

He said Nurse filed for 2003 but did not sign it.

Alkins admitted that Rene Monteil, Aleem Mohammed, David O’Brien, Kirby Hosang, and Anthony Aboud, did not file for 2003 and 2004. Questioned by Newman, Alkins said that no steps were taken to investigate or prosecute any of these people.

Alkins said that about 1,000 public officials were required to file returns for 2003, but only 728 complied. He agreed with Newman that the Commission sent polite letters to the defaulters. But none of the names were sent to the DPP.

Newman gave Alkins more home work. He want Alkins to check to see whether Labour Minister Danny Montano omitted to mention on his statement for 2003 that he had interests in 12 different companies.

But Cassel responded, “the mention of this name leaves an unnecessary smell about it. I am only concerned about Mr Montano’s reputation.” Alkins will return today with the answer.

Cassel then asked, “is there anybody other than Mr Panday who sent his declaration consistently late or untruthful, with assets disproportionate with his earnings, and when asked, he has not told the truth?

Alkins replied, “this is one matter before the Magistrates’ Court where inconsistencies occur, that is Mr. Finbar Gangar and that is before the court. There is nobody else.”