Elias claims he brought down UNC, PNM governments

Businessman Emile Elias suggested in court Tuesday that his fight against corruption helped bring down both the Panday United National Congress (UNC) government and the Manning People's National Movement (PNM) administration.

Elias is executive chairman of NH International (Caribbean) Ltd, a construction company that has handled many government contracts.

Elias was responding to questions from Senior Counsel Seenath Jairam in a civil suit filed by Elias against former Works Minister and PNM Diego Martin North-East MP Colm Imbert.

Elias is suing Imbert for $55 million. He claims Imbert reneged on a contract and has refused to pay the money for work done on the Grenada National Stadium construction project in 1997.

Elias testified that Imbert's firm, ICS (Grenada) Limited, had petitioned to get the Grenada High Court to wind-up the company. He said he considered that as a conspiracy to defraud the company's legitimate creditors.
 

Elias told the court the former president of Clico Investment Bank (CIB), Lennox Archer, and Imbert had political connections and that CIB chairman and PNM financier, Andre Monteil, was Imbert's campaign manager at the time

"I oppose the PNM. I oppose corruption. I oppose Mr Manning and his cohorts, including Mr Imbert, for corruption," Elias said.

Imbert is expected to testify on Wednesday.