Anil Roberts to Sue Media Houses and COP chairman Over Fabricated Story.

Anil Roberts Sport Minister

Armed with proof—a letter from the Integrity Commission which stated he was not under probe—Sport Minister Anil Roberts yesterday said he will be seeking justice in court against Guardian Media Ltd for false reports, as well as Congress of the People (COP) chairman Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan.

The Guardian reported on Wednesday that the Integrity Commission last week referred Roberts to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), in relation to a complaint of alleged misappropriation of funds at the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board of Control.

Yesterday, the Guardian reported further that Roberts was summoned to a meeting by the COP on this issue and that Seepersad-Bachan, as well as former head of the Public Service Reggie Dumas, had indicated he should demit office pending the DPP probe.

Political analyst Bishnu Ragoonath had also commented on the matter in the Guardian report.

Roberts was the lone minister at the post-Cabinet news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair yesterday.

He came to clear the air that he was under no investigation, and as a result, he will be taking legal action against a number of persons.

In addition to Guardian Media Ltd and Seepersad-Bachan, Roberts said he also intends to sue Dumas, Ragoonath, COP general secretary Clyde Weatherhead and Ricardo Phillip, former boxing board member, who filed the complaint with the Integrity Commission in 2011.

Other media facing a lawsuit include i95FM and the Trinidad Express. 

The minister said he was willing to forgive Dumas and Ragoonath, should they apologise, as he claimed they were “duped” by Guardian reporter Anika Gumbs-Sandiford.

Roberts said following the Guardian report on Wednesday, his brother Shastri Roberts, an attorney, wrote to the Integrity Commission on his behalf, seeking answers.

The minister said on that same day, at 3.15 p.m., his brother received an e-mail from the commission, from the legal counsel of investigations and compliance, indicating he (Roberts) had not been referred to the DPP for investigation. The commission, by letter dated March 21, also stated same.

Roberts said he shared the e-mail with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who was relieved, and with fellow-ministers who were concerned and, also, Seepersad-Bachan.

“...When I showed that letter to Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan, she was the only one who requested to read it twice; she questioned the veracity of the document and went on to mumble and mutter, ‘But they told me’...at that time, I said, ‘Ma’am, I hope you did not make a statement on something that you failed to get the facts on’.”

Roberts pointed out that Seepersad-Bachan had instructed Weatherhead to call him to a meeting—and this was done after she had already commented on the issue.

While he intends to engage in legal battle with Seepersad-Bachan, Roberts commended COP political leader Prakash Ramadhar for being a “gentleman”.

Ramadhar, he said, discussed the issue with him via phone and did not “rush to judgment”.

Roberts, in response to questions, said he remains in the COP despite his issues with some of the party’s executive members as the COP membership supported him and were happy with his performance.

Roberts also made grave allegations against the Guardian reporter, claiming she never spoke to him yet quoted him in a report.

The minister said he never spoke to Gumbs-Sandiford and challenged her to produce phone records proving otherwise.

He said a pre-action protocol letter was already sent to Guardian editor-in-chief Judy Raymond and Gumbs-Sandiford.

Roberts also disclosed he had inside information on what was going on at the Guardian.

“To Ms Judy Raymond, who congratulated at 10.02 a.m. on Thursday, who congratulated, on the second floor of Guardian Media Ltd, Anika Gumbs-Sandiford for her lead story and told her she is now mandated to get a comment from the minister, who gave no such comment, but Anika Gumbs-Sandiford created, fabricated and published a quote purported to come from me.”

Roberts said he also intends to write Norman Sabga and Jerry Brooks of the Ansa McAl group on the issue.

Source: Trinidadexpress

Seeparsad-Bachan: Anil Must Demit Office Pending Probe by DPP

Sport Minister Anil Roberts must demit office pending a probe by the Director of Public Prosecutions into allegations of misbehaviour in public office levelled against him. This is the view of Congress of the People chairman Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan and former head of the Public Service Reginald Dumas yesterday.

  

The Integrity Commission last week referred Roberts, his permanent secretary Ashwin Creed and special adviser to the T&T Boxing Board of Control (TTBBC), Boxu Potts, to DPP Roger Gaspard, in relation to a complaint of alleged misappropriation of funds at the TTBBC relating to several events, in particular a $1.9 million boxing card put on by Potts’ son Giovanni.

The complaint was filed in 2011 by former TTBBC board member Ricardo Phillip, who was fired two days after he refused to support approval of the card for Potts’ son. Speaking about the development yesterday, Seepersad-Bachan said: “I take very seriously this matter where ministers are required to answer to any charges of corruption or conflict of interest involving their ministries or agencies that report to them.

“In such a case, they ought to step aside to facilitate the investigations, any form of investigations being carried out by the DPP,” she added. Noting that the matter was of a serious nature, Seepersad-Bachan said she consulted with political leader Prakash Ramadhar on the matter yesterday and a party decision was taken to meet with Roberts before any pronouncement was made on the matter. As such, they have summoned Roberts to an emergency meeting tomorrow.

“I have directed the general secretary to send a letter on my behalf to Mr Roberts, requesting him to attend a meeting to discuss the matter by Friday, so that we can hear his side before we make any pronouncement on the matter,” she said. “It is a very serious matter and we cannot have different strokes for different folks. We did have such a situation with former government minister Mary King and you will note what happened in that situation. They moved very swiftly for that one, and we also want to move very swiftly with this one.

“However, in accordance with the principles of natural justice we felt it was important that we gave Mr Roberts a hearing.” Dumas, too, suggested that the appropriate thing was for Roberts to step aside pending the outcome of the probe. “Although the minister has not been charged, and may not be, in the interest of transparency he should step aside until the matter has been dealt with and he is cleared,” he said.

“While there is no legal obligation for him to step aside, it is with keeping in good ethics that he should demit office until all issues surrounding the matter in question are clarified.” On the issue of whether the investigation poses another creditability issue for the Government, political scientist Dr Bishnu Ragoonath said: “Of course, the Government is facing serious other challenges in terms of questions pertaining to transparency and accountability, many of which are left unresolved.

 “Among them are the ways ministers respond to issues, all of which seem to be challenging the Government in relation to credibility issues,” he said. “The issues have all come to the fore and are undermining the stability of the Government and this is yet another issue where a minister has seemingly gone in contravention of good governance practices.”

Ragoonath said in spite of the allegations, he does not expect that Roberts will step down from his ministerial portfolio. “The position taken with all the allegations so far is that no one is voluntarily stepping aside and I do not believe this case would be any different,” he said. “However, because of the moral position the COP has taken I believe the political party would recommend for the minister to step aside until the investigations are completed.”

Anil: I have no case to answer

Commenting on the matter yesterday, Roberts said he was not unduly worried by the referral of the matter to the DPP’s Office, noting he was certain he did not have a case to answer. He also disclosed he was seeking legal advice on the matter. 

Meanwhile, the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday issued the following statement on the issue: “The PM respects the independence and integrity of DPP and Integrity Commission and therefore due process must take its course with regards to the allegations and the investigations into them by both agencies.” Telephone calls and messages sent to Creed were unsuccessful yesterday.

Source:Guardiannews

THA VINDICATED

The onslaught from the Peoples Partnership (PP) came fast and furious in the MILSHIV project undertaken by the Tobago House of Assembly (THA). Sport Minister Anil Roberts was the first to launch a scaling attack of words alleging corruption and wrongdoing by Chief Secretary Orville London in the Parliament during the 2012-2013 budget debate two weeks ago. Like if that was not enough, the Prime Minister took her punch in a bid to finish off the THA and ultimately secure a winning spot in the THA election carded for January 2013. The prime Minister threatened to stop the project and advised that she had referred the matter to the Attorney General Anand Ramlogan for swift investigation. Anand last week wasted little time and attempted to finish off what was left of the THA in this matter. He indicated that he had referred the matter to the Commissioner of Police, the Integrity Commission and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), all without getting the full facts of the matter at hand. 

However, the THA looked bullet proof. The Chief Secretary stating emphatically, that they have nothing to hide and that the MILSHIV project was above board. But even as the Government was eager to question the legality of the matter in a hope to score cheap political points ahead of the THA election the acting president Hamel Smith gave his support for its legitimacy. The express stated that in a six-page legal opinion commissioned by AIC Capital Market Brokers Ltd, dated January 3, 2011, Senator Hamel-Smith confirmed the ability of the THA to enter into the arrangement, saying there was no law restraining the THA from entering into a lease/leaseback arrangement to develop the Milshirv Administrative Centre for Education, Sport and Youth purposes. the express further stated that in arriving at the decision, the law firm consulted the THA Act Ch 25:03 extensively and investigated several pertinent international cases, which sought to determine whether entities such as the THA had the authority to enter into similar arrangements without breaching the law. 

However, the PP government continues to witch hunt although given the advice to move forward. They continue to maintain that the THA has broken the Law, all in a hope that something may eventually present itself and give them leverage in the THA elections 2013. 

The express stated that in summarising its "advice", Hamel-Smith told the AIC that since the THA has responsibility for education, sports and State lands in Tobago and is required to formulate and implement policy in relation to such responsibilities, leasing the said land can be considered to be an extension of such powers, or alternatively, incidental to such power.

Further, Hamel-Smith added: "Indeed as there is no express prohibition disallowing the THA from dealing with the land vested in it, and the THA is permitted to enter into such contract as it deems fit for the discharge of its functions, leasing and leasing-back the property with the view of acquiring an administrative centre to be used for education, sport, and youth purposes may well be considered within the powers of the THA and, in any event, incidental to such powers."

Hamel-Smith took special note of the THA's responsibilities as enunciated in Section 25 of the Act, which stated among other thing that the THA may "enter into such contracts as it deems fit for the efficient discharge of its functions".

The lawyers pointed out as well that Section 54 states, inter alia that all lands and other property of every kind located in Tobago vested in the State except the residence of the President and Prime Minister, are to be vested in the Assembly in right of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

The opinion signed by the acting President made it clear that "there is no express prohibition on the THA restricting its ability to deal with its land", and that the "THA is given wide powers to enter into such contracts as it sees fit for the discharge of its functions"

$320M DEAL

Minister of Sports Anil Roberts has accused the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) of corruption in a $320 million deal involving the sale, lease and rental of three acres of lands and an office building, all linked to the family of former PNM government minister John Rahael.

According to Roberts, the THA bought the parcel of land for $12 million from a company owned by members of the Rahael family. 

The THA then leased the land back to another Rahael family company for a 199-year period at $10 a year. The Rahaels then offered to rent to the THA the property with office space at a cost of $1.2 million a month for 20 years. 

Roberts yesterday flung a barrage of accusations of corruption and mismanagement under the former PNM government during his contribution to the 2013 Budget debate in the House of Representatives, Tower D, Port-of-Spain International Waterfront Centre. 

His salvoes— including a denial of funding to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation senior team for a current overseas tour (see page 8, 42A), and the linking of the current budget deficit to wastage, overruns and corruption under the PNM administration— were directed at Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley, who opened the debate with claims that the People’s Partnership Government had demonstrated over the past two and a half years that it was corrupt. 

“They gonna learn something right now,” Roberts said as he disclosed the details of transactions involving the THA and the Rahael family companies. 

The THA, Roberts said, bought three acres of land from Dankett Limited for $12 million. Dankett’s two directors were Joseph Rahael, son of former PNM government minister John Rahael, and Anthony Rahael, brother of the former minister. 

John Rahael, Roberts noted, was a former ministerial colleague of Rowley, and the candidate whom Rowley backed as chairman for the PNM at the party’s last elections for its executive. Six days after buying the land from Dankett Ltd, Roberts said the THA leased the land to Milshirv Properties Limited for 199 years at $10 a year. Milshirv Properties, Roberts claimed, is owned by Joseph Rahael. 

According to Roberts, “The story gets worse.” 

While the THA did not say to Milshirv Properties that it needed office space, according to Roberts, “Joseph Rahael, son of John Rahael, said to the THA, you all need office space. Buy my land. Lease it to my next company, Amera. I will give you the design (for a building of 82,654 square feet) and you pay me over the next 20 years, $1.2 million a month.” 

That would amount to, Roberts said, over $320 million. 

On September 7, Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP) leader Ashworth Jack told the media at a press conference in Port-of-Spain, that the building was built at a cost of $143 million with taxpayers contributing funds under a BOLT (build-own-lease-transfer) arrangement. 

Jack said the Bolt arrangement was not necessary as the THA also owned the land next door to the new three-storey building at the corner of Claude Noel Highway and Shirvam Road in West Tobago. 

The new building is to house the THA’s Division of Agriculture, Marine Affairs, Marketing and the Environment. 

According to a THA release issued in response to the TOP press conference, taxpayers stood to gain “significant benefits” from the way the project was financed. 

The THA admitted to having to pay $322 million over a 20-year period. 

However, the release said the THA would not be responsible “for the external maintenance of the building constructed under the arrangement, the developer would take all the risks in the investment; at the end of every three-year period the (THA) would capitalise the rent to the end of the lease period and pay off for the building; and at the end of the 20-year period, the property would be automatically owned by the (THA).” 

According to Roberts, after the lease agreement was effected, the THA agreed to pay up front $21.64 million to cover an 18-month period through a First Citizens Bank account of which the THA and the Milshirv Ltd were signatories. 

Linking the PNM to the THA and the businesses, Roberts said, Tobago “is the last little piece” that the PNM has a hold on. 

“This is what they doing in Tobago. This is why we call on Orville London (THA Chief Secretary) to call elections in Tobago, because Ashworth Jack and TOP are waiting to save the last piece.” 

Referring to the PNM, he said, “and they have the audacity to talk to us about dishonesty and corruption.” 

On the issue of deficit financing which Rowley criticised, Roberts said no matter how much Finance Minister Larry Howai explained that the economy has to get moving, the PNM does not understand that extravagant spending, wastage and cost overruns were mainly responsible for the $17 billion budget deficits of the People’s Partnership Government over the past two and a half years. 

“Because of the PNM budget arithmetic,” he said, the sums of cost overruns of projects undertaken by the PNM government over its last term in office amounted to $17.3 billion in Trinidad, and $1.12 billion in Tobago. The PNM government overruns in Trinidad, he said, included the International Waterfront project, $2 billion; Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and Summit of the Americas, $2.2 billion; Tarouba Stadium, $1.2 billion; E-teck, $1.2 billion; and Rapid Rail. 

“Understand what you did with the people’s money,” he said. “That was just Trinidad.” 

The overruns in Tobago, he said, included Scarborough Hospital, $620 million; Financial Complex, $80 million; Goat Racing Track, $110 million; NALIS Library, $52 million, “and it only have a foundation”

reproduced from Newsday