Kamla will sue finance minister, AG

Kamla Persad-Bissessar is going after the finance minister again, but it is not related to the raging controversy over the CL financial bailout.

The deputy political leader of United National Congress (UNC) is trying to block Government’s access to $2.4 billion deposited into the Infrastructure Development Fund (IDF) last year.

Persad-Bissessar took a break from Phagwa celebration at Mohess Road Recreation Ground to tell reporters of her plans to deliver "a pre-action protocol lawyer’s letter to sue Nunez-Tesheira and Attorney General Bridget Annisette-George" on Monday.

She said the money had been earmarked for spending by the Government through its “special purpose” companies.

“And I am asking that the ministers do not withdraw monies in the sum of $2.4 billion that was initially placed in the Infrastructure Development Fund...I am also asking for the AG to have steps taken to have that act repealed and declared void,” she said adding that the Supplementary Appropriation Bill allowed Government to place billions of dollars into the fund to be used for infrastructural development.

Persad-Bissessar said Government had placed $5 billion into the fund and noted that $2.4 billion of that, which was placed in the Infrastructure Development Fund, was illegal because it was not in accordance with procedures of the Constitution.

She added: “At the moment, the Government has placed this money in the fund, and they saying that it is for projects, but this facilitates rampant corruption because we never know what these projects are.

“Government is saying it is for special purpose projects, but we have seen the massive corruption and squandermania from these special purpose companies—Udecott being one of them.”

Persad-Bissessar said the plan is to take the legal action in the name of Fyzabad MP Chandresh Sharma. She said if the action succeeds she will return the $2.4 billion to the Treasury.