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Not since Roman prefect Pontius Pilate made a grand show of washing his hands—during a dodgy and memorable case immortalised in the New Testament—has a legislative body shown so much enthusiasm for ridding itself of a matter and so little stomach for taking responsibility for its decision.
Rather than make a public pronouncement on the “emailgate” scandal that has hung over Parliament for the past two years, the Integrity Commission yesterday sent its verdict to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s lawyer, Israel Khan SC, in a letter curiously marked “private and confidential.”
Naturally, the Prime Minister promptly ushered the correspondence into the public arena.
(Copyright AFP 2014/Frederic Dubray)
The Integrity Commission used merely one line to present its verdict, which was that “there was no or insufficient grounds for continuing the investigation into the above matter and accordingly this investigation is hereby terminated.”
But the commission, chaired by Justice Zainool Hosein, used two paragraphs to explain why it did not need to justify its decision.
Pilate, at least, abdicated responsibility with a better soundbite.
“I am innocent of this (case),” said Pilate, as he symbolically washed his hands in a basin, “see you to it.”
When taken in the context of the Prime Minister’s stance against the last release she did not fancy—she initiated moves to remove the deputy DPP, just 24 hours earlier—is it any wonder that the Integrity Commission had its foot on the gas and was reluctant to look in the rearview mirror?
For the umpteenth time then, the Prime Minister was cleared. We do not know how or why that is so.
But who are we to question such a questionable ruling—at least in the absence of accompanying information—in an era when the Prime Minister has ordered the heads of deputy DPP Joan Honore-Paul, director of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) David West and the NGC served a pre-action protocol letter to a Trinidad Express journalist for an investigative story that the State board admitted was based on factual information.
(Courtesy thepresident.tt)
Discretion, Hosein might say about his hasty exit, is the better part of valour.
Persad-Bissessar enjoyed her victory. Again.
“This is a major victory for the Office of the Prime Minister and the sovereignty of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago… Now we can move on to the real issue here. That is the Opposition Leader’s arrogant actions in misleading the Parliament and impugning members of the Government…
“If he will do this to the Office of the Prime Minister, what would he do to those less able to defend themselves? If elected, whom would he bully and harass?
“Now that the Integrity Commission has pronounced and concluded their investigations… the Opposition Leader’s leadership is again called into question and once again it shows that he is unfit to lead our country.”
The Prime Minister’s statements, if she believes them, again arguably shows her failure to grasp the mood of the people.
If having persons in authority answer to investigative bodies for their conduct is bullying, then where can Wired868 sign up for a pro-bullying campaign? And, mind you, we want it applied to politicians on both sides of the fence.
Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley would have been deemed reckless in the extreme if he took emails to court that were found to be fake within a day. As was the case with the evidence of rape that Persad-Bissessar’s own team carried to Parliament to sully Rowley and his deceased father.
Had Rowley edited or manipulated those emails in any way, he should have been charged with criminal misconduct.
But this is a case that took two State-funded investigative bodies over two years to make headway on; and a matter the Prime Minister could not even get a favourable decision on through the Parliament’s Privilege Committee, chaired by her Speaker of the House Wade Mark.
It is difficult to see how the Diego Martin West MP could be blamed for failing to solve such a complex affair on his own.
Emailgate has one of two possible outcomes: guilty or not guilty. And it is not Rowley who is on trial.
Thus far, Persad-Bissessar has tried to charge and convict Rowley in the court of public opinion and through trial by media and everywhere but a court of law and the Privileges Committee.
If the Prime Minister is so certain of the Opposition Leader’s wrongdoing over this affair, then, by her own admission, she has enough court clothes, and the People’s Partnership has never been shy about filing litigation.
(Courtesy Baltimore Post)
The IC made its ruling yesterday and fled the scene. Eventually, the Police Service will have its turn at the crease.
“Justice should not only be done,” said British Lord Chief Justice Hewart in 1924, “but should manifestly and undoubtedly be seen to be done.”
There is a case to be made that Trinidad and Tobago got a verdict from the Integrity Commission. But not justice.
Just as the Jews did with Pilate in that historic case.
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Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.
Discontinue all investigations in the banana as a cost cutting measure.
Dey eh revealing nothing anyway!
The TTPS said they will not be rushed in their investigations…
And what if the contents of the emails are true but the person who fabricated them is trying to cover his/her tracks for their own safety, then is it not important to determine this. Let’s just suppose that the contents are true should we say that because the email addresses are supposedly fake that we should ignore the contents?
Stupes!
‘integrity
no integrity’
Corruptions
Corruptions
Corruptions
Integrity
Corruptions
Corruptions
Corruptions
No integrity
In the integrity commission
Every state agency and institution
touched by the unc with its pp tail
has been corrupted
Oxford Dictionary
cannot keep up
with the wire bending of words
Corruptions
Corruptions
Corruptions
Sankofa m f o m tuzinde
20th May 2015
Marking the unc with a pp tail’s evil psychological projections of their racism, thieving, lying. Kamla taking about truth and quoting great minds on truth. I warn the children do drink alcohol, don’t dance with the devil
very well written and the fact is this “clearing” of the Pm and her Ministers and the end of the emailgate probe from the IC sounds way too coincidental for anyone to take it at face value or without a bit of salt added to it. I’m sorry but given the bad taste the PP Government have left in this country’s mouth after the past 5 years, they would’ve been less “guilty” if they were in fact pronounced “guilty” i.e if the emails were in fact true 😉
whe fadda…some people just like to argue for arguing sake oui…
Wheel and come again!!
I am trying to clearly understand your position Eko Watts.
For instance, the article stated: “The IC made its ruling yesterday and fled the scene. Eventually, the Police Service will have its turn at the crease.”
So why are you saying that I’m suggesting this was the end of the investigation?
No problem the challenge is yours to present an opinion piece while understanding the legal and judicial principles involved.
I accept your opinion on the article. But I’m trying to be clear as to what exactly your problem is.
It implies that an investigation is an end in itself. An investigations is the means by which evidence is gathered, following which such evidence can support the criminal prosecution in a court of law
And did the IC not state: “there was no or insufficient grounds for continuing the investigation into the above matter and accordingly this investigation is hereby terminated.”
If so, is that not grounds to say that the IC investigation cleared the Prime Minister?
Has the IC not referred matters to the DPP before but opted not to in this case?
And did my article speak to any investigation other than the IC, Eko Watts? I’m not trying to convince you but I’m going over your objections.
it merely speaks to the investigation of the IC
The Private and confidential letter to the attorney is not an official statement as to the status of attempts to PROSECUTE the persons involved
A private attorney for a person implicated in allegations to pervert the course of justice, writes to the Integrity Commission asking for disclosure as to the evidence before the commissionan the status of the investigation, to which the IC responds that it is not obliged to give that information to the private attorney unde the regulations that guide that institution, and can only do so to a court of law and the IC investigation is over but that does not pre-empt the laying of charges and the IC evidence being tendered in court and the DPP giving evidence.
Thanks for the feedback Roger. But you’re saying I’m way off because I said the Integrity Commission made a verdict on its investigation?
Well if it is an opinion piece Lasana I’m sorry you are way off in your analysis of this issue.
Ok. Yes. I started it as a satirical piece and took a left turn somewhere. And then just decided to go with a straight opinion piece.
I actually thought people would not have noticed. Lol.
I agree with you on point two as well although I’m not happy in the way this thing has played out with the PM seeming to interfere with the process at every opportunity.
I think (3) might contradict your closing point though. Lol
Not disagreeing Lasana. I meant that:
1) I can see where Mr. Live Wire started and where you took over.
2) If the specific emails are fake and a search of all emails in the period in question shows nothing, then I am ok with the cessation of the investigation.
3) I think some of the PNM and Rowley’s actions are strange at times and needlessly damage their own position. For example, Rowley was foolish in my opinion to go prancing around with a strange woman carnival time. For one Carnival, stay home and behave yourself with your eyes on the prize.
Finally , all of this is still far from addressing the major issues facing our nation.
I can give a verdict on something and so can you. Those words were not designed for court use only, even if you hear them there most.
Forget the semantics. It isn’t satire. It is an opinion piece. Of course you can disagree with my points.
But I don’t see the point of arguing about whether a decision from the Integrity Commission is or isn’t a verdict.
I remember Hebert Volney’s pronouncement in Parliament. …. the look of ‘OOH dear God who TALK! ! On the PM and goat boy faces….. the utter silence while Dr Rowley was speaking. ….. I asked Dale Enoch on the radio what of the other names called he had no response! !! I will ask again WHY is only KPB & goat boy who are ‘cleared’….. what of sewage. …motor mouth…. judge. …..
Probably some more satire is required, this article is not in the vein of your usual satirical essays, words like ruling and verdict are the purview of courts of law, which is where we are trying to get this matter, it is not even a case until there is a charge and those implicated are brought before the courts.
I have one question for you Eko Watts. Did the integrity commission release a document which suggested it cleared Kamla?
If yes, read over the article. I was very clear who made the verdict i referenced. And I was clear which body still has to deliver a verdict.
Lasana Liburd i suggest you have a discussion with some legal minds because your article has been guided by the misrepresentations of those wishing to avoid prosecution. Prosecution occurs in a court by the way and a letter to a defence attorney can by no stretch of the imagination be classified as a “ruling”. This article does you a disservice.
I don’t understand what you mean Kendall Tull. I’m explaining why I think this emailgate matter leaves a bitter taste.
What did you disagree with exactly?
Let her bring it!
“If the Prime Minister is so certain of the Opposition Leader’s wrongdoing over this affair, then, by her own admission, she has enough court clothes, and the People’s Partnership has never been shy about filing litigation.”
Lasana, as a political independent, I always thought it was fake. Who would be so stupid to send emails discussing among other criminal activities, murder ? Especially a public person? Granted some politicians are dunces, I would have more likely to believe if it was a wire tapping
Eric, it happens more often than you think.
I can see where the article started and when it changed tenor. If the evidence shows the emails are false AND there was no communication in the same vein during the period, the fair play for the dismissal. Proving deliberate misleading is another matter completely. I do think that some of the actions of the PNM have been baffling as they seemed ill considered. At times they seem hell bent on snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
Still, we focus on everything but the very serious issues we face as a nation about our future.
The investigation was fogged from the get-go. In other places, every piece of equipment handed in would have been considered as tampered evidence.
Lance there is a big difference in the data on a computer when it is seized by a competent IT specialist as opposed to when it is handed over voluntarily by the owner to the investigators.
Your knowledge is wrong Chris Whitehall.Electronic devices were held,as a matter of fact Gary Griffith recently revealed that to date the police still has his mobile phone.
The dog wags the tail, not the tail wags the dog.
Regardless of who is involved, the investigators go to the suspect’s home and seize the equipment. The suspect don’t get the option of being asked nicely to tender their device(s) to the investigators.
Excellent point Chris! When there is an investigation where electronic devices and equipment are used in the commission of a crime. The equipment are seized instead of the owners being asked to hand them over.
From the outside looking in, this is a farce.. to my knowledge, no electronic devices has been seized, but they are making the population believe that Google alone can verify the emails.
Yep. The cyber crime unit can be pretty tough too when it is a teenaged girl insulting the PM.
So persons threatened the life of someone through emails and the police is taking over 2 years to investigate it?? Do they have a cyber crime unit?
I remember some mean emails about Denyse Renne and some statement that suggested someone wanted to do harm to her. I remember Gary Griffith supposedly being copied in on that. But I don’t remember another damn thing.
All I remember now is the PM clearing herself every other week and Moonilal trying to make it about Rowley rather than the accused parties.
I think ppl remember the recent roller coaster the most. Few remember the details of the accusations.
In my opinion her actions border on the bizarre. She’s running around like a headless chicken claiming she’s been cleared yet no substantial proof of that. Why is she so anxious for this to go way so haphazardly? Why not wait on the outcome of the investigation? What is she so afraid of? What doesn’t she wants the investigation to uncover?
I remember how her face blanched and how terrified she looked.
Rhoda Bharath, what would you say we remember most clearly about emailgate? The eye-opening accusations laid in Parliament?
Or the Prime Minister’s bizarre attempts to wriggle free of them over the last two years?
(Not meant to be a leading question…)
Perhaps that is it. Or maybe there were so many points to touch upon that I felt it hard to cover them properly as Mr Live Wire.
Or maybe I just wasn’t in a witty mood! 🙂
Lasana, I imagine sometimes the pedulum swings so far left that it’s hard to figure out just how best to ridicule the ridiculous as Kevin Baldeosingh said.
She’s running around call for the head of The DDPP and not calling the election date!!! Smh
Fayola Bostic, this is a rare case where I started writing a satirical piece. And halfway through, I realised that I wasn’t. So I just left it at that.
I only remember that happening once before. With a piece on Ian Alleyne about two or three years ago.
5 words “Crazy Kams have to go”
Well written again Sir and keep up the great work
The Prime Minister, by her latest letter waving shenanigans has only cast (more) aspersions on the Commission, whose integrity has been tenuous at best over the past several years. Do remember that this commission was selected by a Head of State who, while his legal expertise may be top notch, his silence is so loud that my ten year old often questions whether or not we still have a President because he does not “see or hear him”.