Get Hart! COP vice chairman says it's taking too long to charge former UDeCOTT boss charge

File: Prof. John Uff hands his report to President Max Richards

The Vice Chairman of the Congress of the People (COP) wants to know why it is taking so long to charge former UDeCOTT executive chairman, Calder Hart.

Vernon De Lima told the Guardian newspaper it is taking too long for the Anti Corruption Investigations Bureau (ACIB) to send the Hart file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

“This is a national disgrace. Calder Hart must not escape. I can’t help but feel that Hart is being protected for a reason; a political reason. It seems to me that this is a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice from inside the Police Service,” De Lima told the paper.

He said the Government should insist that Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs deliver quickly on this case, noting that it is nearly one year since COP obtained documents from Malaysia, showing the family relationship between Hart and two directors of CH Development.

That's the company that won a $368 million contract from UDeCOTT to build the Legal Affairs Towers. Hart has always denied a family connection although the documents making the link have been verified by authorities.

De Lima said it is clear that Hart committed perjury during the Uff inquiry and is wondering why police cannot charge him. The Uff report recommended that the contract be investigated.

Read the story: Uff report recommends probe of Calder Hart, UDeCOTT

Hart left the country with his family immediately after the completion of the inquiry into UDeCOTT and the construction sector.

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan told Parliament two weeks ago that there is enough evidence to charge Hart but he cannot do anything about because that is the responsibility of the DPP. Gaspard's response was that he can proceed only when sufficient evidence is before him.