Thursday, October 29 2009

While the status of the Uff Commission of Inquiry remains subject to question, President of the Joint Consultative Council (JCC) Winston Riley is expected to testify today in court proceedings stemming from events dealt with during the Piarco Commission of Inquiry.

Riley is expected to testify in the Port-of-Spain First Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Ejenny Espinet in the Piarco II inquiry in which several businessmen and former government ministers are charged.

Former government ministers Sadiq Baksh and Brian Kuei Tung, together with Galbaransingh and Maharaj, former Airports Authority chairman, Tyrone Gopee, and businessmen Steve Ferguson, Peter Cateau and Edoo, US nationals Raul Gutierrez and Ronald Birk are before the court to answer charges of fraud arising from the Piarco Airport development project.

Calmaquip Engineering Corporation, Fidelity Finance and Leasing Co Ltd, Northern Construction Ltd and Maritime General Insurance Co Ltd are also charged.

The charges include: manipulation of the tendering process; falsely pretending that the process was open, honest and competitive and falsely pretending that the contract was fairly priced and reasonable in its terms. Riley was involved in the original Piarco Commission of Inquiry, which pre-dated the bringing of charges against several persons in public life in relation to the $1.6 billion project.