Manning to appear before Clico/HCU probe as witness for Nunez-teshiera

A report in the NEWSDAY newspaper Sunday said former Prime Minister Patrick Manning is likely going to appear as a witness at the next phase of the Clico/HCU commission of enquiry, which is scheduled to begin on November 7.

The report said Manning would be a witness in support of his former Finance Minister Karen Nunez-Tesheira, who was involved in the bailout deal for Cl Financial (CLF) and its subsidiary companies.

The commission has summoned Nunez-Teshiera.

If Manning makes an appearance on the witness stand, he will likely provide some background and explain how his finance minister became involved in the CLC matter.

The former finance minister has faced a barrage of criticism for the role she played in working out the deal, especially since she was a major shareholder in Clico. She has also been accused of using insider information to withdraw millions of dollars just weeks before CLF got a billio-dollar package from the Manning government.

Nunez'Teshieria's role in the whole matter has been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) by the Integrity Commission. The commission had been asked by Devant Maharaj, who is now the Transport Minister, to investigate the minister for possible breach of the Integrity in Public Life Act.

The Commission referred the matter to the DPP for review under Section 34 of the Integrity in Public Life Act. Section 34 (5) reads:

“Where after the conduct of an investigation, the Commission is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that an offence has been committed, it shall make a report to the Director of Public Prosecutions who may take such action as he thinks appropriate.”

Manning had always defended Nunez-Teshiera. During the height on the uproar over the minister in 2009 he asked the media and citizens not to make any hasty conclusions about the minister. And he expressed confidence in her.

“I want to re-affirm the confidence that I had in the Minister of Finance when she was first appointed in that position...Until such time as something happens to force me to change that position, then the status quo remains,” he told reporters at a media briefing.

Last Friday Nunez-Teshiera's lawyer told the commission of enquiry that the governor of the Central Bank, Ewart Williams, is the one who advised the minister about the difficulties being faced by CFL.