The Integrity Commission in Trinidad and Tobago has forwarded a confidential report to Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard, recommending a criminal investigation of former prime minister Patrick Manning and former government minister Hedwige Bereaux. A report says the recommendation made public on Friday in an affidavit filed in the San Fernando High Court, did not name the two men.
However, the Trinidad Express quoted reliable sources who said Manning and Bereaux were the subjects of the enquiry and that they had been interviewed by the commission’s investigator.
Manning's lawyer, Michael Quamina, has confirmed that his client has received correspondence from the commission. He said Manning will likely comment on the matter this week.
Bereaux, a former minister of science and technology in Manning’s administration, has admitted that he had been interviewed by the commission.
A sworn statement filed in the San Fernando Civil Registry by Martin Farrell, registrar of the Integrity Commission Martin Farrell, stated the commission had concluded that the two people "had failed without reasonable justification to fulfill their duties or obligations under the Integrity in Public Life Act".
He said the commission came to that conclusion on May 28, four days after the general election. Farrell said on June 7, the commission made a report to the DPP under Section 31 of the Act, in respect of the two people who were not named.
The affidavit was in response to a 2008 lawsuit filed by attorney Anand Ramlogan, representing the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS). Ramlogan is the current Attorney General.
It complained about the delay of the Integrity Commission to conclude its investigation into the speedy award of a radio licence to Louis Lee Sing’s Citadel Ltd.
The commission launched its investigation based on a complaint by the SDMS on July 12, 2006 over the speedy granting of the the Citadel licence and the failure of the State to offer similar treatment to the SDMS.
The approval of a radio licence for Citadel Ltd’s I95.5 FM to People’s National Movement (PNM) supporter and financier Lee Sing on August 8, 2006 sparked the controversy, with accusations from the SDMS of discrimination and corruption.
Lee Sing had been broadcasting on another frequency, 92.5 FM, but following a complaint by the legitimate licence-holders, the Manning cabinet approved an application for Citadel Ltd within 48 hours.
The SDMS was outraged because it's application for a radio licence had been pending since December 1999 and August 2000, without ever getting a response.
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