Bernard mum on Piarco Report

Former Chief Justice Clinton Bernard, chairman of the Commission of Enquiry into the Piarco Airport Expansion Project, stayed mum after handing over the report to President George Maxwell Richards yesterday at President’s House.

Reporters were barred from the handing-over, with only cameramen being admitted. As he exited President’s House with other Commissioners, Justice Bernard refused to shed light on the report. He pulled his hand across his mouth as if zipping his lips together to indicate his lips were sealed. Repeatedly questioned by reporters, he replied: “No comment.” Pressed to say how he was feeling now that the Report had been submitted, he merely stated: “I’m happy.” Bernard gave no indication whether or not there was dissension among the Commissioners in compiling the report. Sunday Newsday understands that there was originally disagreement between the Commisioners, but that after many persuasions and arguments during several discussions, in the long run they all agreed on a compromise that was acceptable to all, to present a united report.

One source confirmed the Commissioners had given the President just one unanimous report, without dissension. The source said there was no separate minority report, either as a separate document or as a dissenting section within the report itself. During the earlier handing-over ceremony, President Richards thanked the Commissioners for their work, including praising the late Peter Bynoe, an architect who had previously been on the Commission but who had resigned due to health problems and had died last week. The Commission, established to investigate the controversial $1.6 billion airport expansion by the former UNC Government, itself became mired in controversy for its cost (including salaries paid to Commissioners and counsel) and the time taken for its completion, and for Bernard’s description of the late Justice Richard Crane as a drunkard.