Meighoo rebuked for suggesting NAR leaders guilty of "treasonous behavior"

The chairman of the commission probing the failed Muslimeen coup of 1990 on Friday rebuked political analyst Kirk Meighoo for views Meighoo expressed during his testimony before the commission.

Meighoo stated that former acting president Emmanuel Carter, former prime minister Arthur NR Robinson and former acting prime minister Winston Dookeran could be guilty of "treasonous behavior" for surrendering the country to the Jamaat-al-Muslimeen during the July 27 coup attempt.

Meighoo relied on secondary sources and third-hand information for data about the coup, including media reports and books.

He suggested that certain participants in the events of 1990, including Dookeran and Robinson, appeared to "obscure, politically spin and sometimes deliberately falsify" the actual report of events. 

He charged that Dookeran "gave up the country" and that Robinson surrendered and signed a letter of resignation and agreed to terms set out by the Muslimeen. 

He also claimed that Dookeran was prepared to form a government of national unity with Abu Bakr, Patrick Manning and Basdeo Panday and to call an election in 90 days.

"And I am not saying all of this with pride. It is quite shameful but it is part of our history," he said.

Commissioner lawyer Avory Sinanan pointed out that the "Points of Agreement" signed by the MPs in the Red House never mentioned anything about an interim Government to include Bakr, Manning and Panday.

Commission Chairman Sir David Simmons asked Meighoo if he was "seriously putting forward the thesis" that these persons intended to overthrow the Government. 

Sir David told Meighoo he thought certain parts of his submission were "impertinent and offensive" with respect to the roles of Dookeran, Robinson and Carter.

"You may not have intended it," he said, "but this can be reasonably construed as being offensive and impertinent." Meighoo said he did not mean to cast any aspersions.