AG Morean reveals —
8 probes into alleged corruption

By Clint Chan Tack Newsday

Attorney General Glenda Morean said yesterday that Government was pursuing eight different investigations into allegations of corruption in Trinidad and Tobago.

Speaking at a news conference at Cabildo Chambers, Morean said that apart from the Lindquist investigation into the Piarco Airport Terminal project, there will be a Commission of Inquiry in the same project to be headed by former Chief Justice Clinton Bernard.

Hours after Prime Minister Patrick Manning announced the new Commission of Inquiry, Morean organised a press briefing to announce other investigations.

"What I can say is take it easy, you will get your results. You are getting results at the moment because you have the Commission of Inquiry into the EBC that is continuing even as we speak. You have the Airport being investigated, the Airport Development Project being investigated in two ways.”

Morean said the Lindquist probe which started in 2000, is now beginning to bear fruit "in that you have been told that the documents have been passed to the DPP who is now studying what has been given to him to determine what if any charges are to be laid against who."

The AG added, "in addition to that, the Commission of Inquiry into the Airport Development project is going to get underway soon because Cabinet has given the decision to go ahead with the Commission and you have been told who the Commissioners are - Clinton Bernard, Chairman; Victor Hart, and Marianne Knight as members."

Morean also announced that a Canadian forensic firm - Swaig - has been hired to probe InnCogen. "Again, these are not things you can do in haste, as they have to take all the necessary steps and make all the enquiries before they can come with a report. In fact, I have not received a final report on the Lindquist investigations, but as we go along, if we have enough, then we take action and that is what is being done."

The Attorney General also noted that investigations are being carried out as to who owns the $12 million apartment in South Kensington, England, and the US $50,000 cheque made out in the name of Basdeo Panday.

Morean also revealed that a probe is being pursued into the Trinmar Soldado field contracts. "We sent an officer some weeks ago to Houston to take depositions from certain persons so that these things take some time."

A Commission of Inquiry into the construction of the Biche High School is underway and the Attorney General is awaiting a report from Minister of Health Colm Imbert into the payment of more than $573,000 in stipends to former Board members of the South-West Regional Health Authority.

Morean added, "once the DPP considers a case has been out for charges to be laid against persons, they will be laid regardless of who they might be.