Senior Reporter
The People’s National Movement (PNM) says it is preparing for a legal battle after confirming it has been served with court documents relating to the financing of the renovation and construction of its Tranquility Street, Port-of-Spain headquarters, Balisier House.
The party said its legal team is reviewing the documents.
Last week, High Court Judge Margaret Mohammed granted a Preliminary Unexplained Wealth Order requiring the party, through its trustees, to disclose how the multi-million-dollar project was funded.
The order, granted on Friday, was sought by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) under the provisions of the Civil Asset Recovery and Management and Unexplained Wealth Act, which was introduced by the PNM while it was in government in 2019.
Questions surrounding the financing of the project had been raised repeatedly by current Government members, including Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, even before the party was elected in April last year.
However, PNM chairman Marvin Gonzales yesterday questioned a video showing the documents being served on the party’s general secretary Foster Cummings.
Gonzales said Cummings was served shortly after arriving at the airport shortly after 1 am yesterday.
Speaking at a media briefing held at the Office of the Opposition Leader in Port-of-Spain, Gonzales questioned whether police were involved in the release of the footage and called for an explanation as to how it reached the media.
“The question I have to ask is, who took this picture? Was a reporter or reporters arranged with the police to meet the General Secretary to capture this shot? Was that photo taken by the police and given to the media? And if that is the case, for what purpose? I am troubled by this development,” Gonzales said.
He said he had been told the documents would be served at Balisier House at 1.30 pm yesterday, rather than at the airport.
The questions come as the PNM continues to raise concerns about what it describes as possible political interference in the police investigation into the finances of its headquarters.
When Guardian Media contacted Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police Ramdath Phillip, who is leading the investigation, he said he was unaware of the circumstances described by Gonzales but assured that the matter would be investigated if the party made a formal report.
However, Gonzales criticised the TTPS when asked whether the party had made such a report.
“I’m sick of the TTPS being used by politicians to do their dirty work and pretending that it is independent. All aspects of this case are being leaked to the media. Even when they visited Balisier House yesterday (Wednesday) and the day before, that was leaked. I don’t think it was Amalgamated or SWAT leaking the information,” he said.
Attempts to contact Cummings on the issue were unsuccessful up to news time.
Guardian Media understands Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles is currently out of the country.
