Trinidad's opposition leader set to go on trial
Basdeo Panday
by Stephen Cummings
Caribbean Net News Trinidad Correspondent
Email:
stephen@caribbeannetnews.com
Monday, January 16, 2006
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Trinidad's
opposition leader, Basdeo Panday could go on trial this week for a breach of the
country's Integrity in Public Life Act.
Panday, who is also a former Prime Minster,
has been charged with failing to declare his finances to the Trinidad Integrity
Commission relating to a London bank account. This was during the time he was
Prime Minister.
The offences relate to failure to declare
assets for period April 9, 1999, March 15-22, 2001, and December 19-24, 1999.
It is being alleged that Panday knowingly made a false declaration of his
income and assets for the respective years December 31, 1997, 1999 and 1998,
contrary to the Integrity in Public Life Act of 1987.
Attorneys for Panday have been arguing that
the former Prime Minister did file the necessary documents some time after a
stipulated deadline and so it could not constitute any breach of the Integrity
in Public Life Act.
The matter has raised several technical
legal issues that have since been engaging the attention of both prosecutors
and defence.
Lead prosecutor, British Queen's Counsel Sir
Timothy Cassel described the argument of the defense last week as "absurd".
Panday is also seeking judicial review of the case. His trial was set to begin
on Thursday last but was postponed to this week after his lawyers filed an
application challenging a decision by Port of Spain Magistrate, Sherman Mc
Nicolls who earlier dismissed a preliminary submission on the issue.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Patrick Manning on
Sunday remained guarded in making any public pronouncements or giving details
concerning corruption charges laid against two of his former government
ministers, former Works and Transport Minister, Franklyn Khan and former
Energy Minister, Eric Williams.
Both former ministers have been charged for
allegedly receiving bribe money from local government minister, Dansam
Dhansook in return for lucrative government contracts.
"I was very careful, ladies and gentlemen,
in speaking today to make it pellucidly clear that the PNM sticks to its
founding principles, one of which was subscribing to the highest standards of
integrity in the conduct of our public affairs," said Prime Minister Manning
during the start of the launch on Sunday of his political party's celebrations
for its 50th anniversary in Port of Spain.
The Prime Minister reminded the audience that the issues were still engaging
the attention of the courts and that he did not want to affect any possible
outcome by making statements at this time.
And up until late Sunday there was still no
official word from government as to who would be the new Energy Minister
following the resignation of Eric Williams. It has however been rumoured that
Public Administration and Information Minister Dr. Lenny Saith would take over
the post of Energy Minister.
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