debut: 2/16/17
40,136 runs
Judge calls on DPP to investigate former minister Faris Al-Rawi,
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard has been asked to look into purported conduct of former rural development and local government minister Faris Al-Rawi, in procuring the three-year renewal deals of over 300 Community-based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme Company (CEPEP) contractors.High Court Judge Margaret Mohammed referred the issue to the DPP yesterday, as she upheld an application from CEPEP’s legal team led by Anand Ramlogan, SC, to stay a lawsuit from one of the contractors over the termination of the contracts.
In her 25-page decision, Justice Mohammed noted that CEPEP had raised serious concerns over a decision taken by its former board to extend the contracts, which were due to end next year, to September 2029, days before the April 28 General Election.
She ruled that its claim that the renewals were facilitated based on a fraudulent misrepresentation of Cabinet approval, allegedly given to former CEPEP chairman Joel Edwards by Al-Rawi, was sufficient enough to be probed by the DPP’s Office.“The serious matters concerning the extension of the agreement to September 2029 necessitate the granting of a stay of the claim and all proceedings and a referral of all the documents filed in this action to the DPP for his consideration,” Justice Mohammed said.Justice Mohammed noted that although Al-Rawi’s alleged conduct was raised in the case, he was not a party to the matter and did not give any evidence.
“In my view, based on the serious allegation made against him, it is only fair that he is given an opportunity to respond,” Justice Mohammed said.“In those circumstances, it is prudent at this stage to grant a stay of this claim and all proceedings and to refer the documents filed in this action to the DPP for his consideration.”She also found merit in CEPEP’s claim that Laventille-based general contracting company Eastman Enterprise Limited, assisted by the People’s National Movement (PNM), rushed to file the lawsuit when a clause in its contract provided for mediation and arbitration before litigation.
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard has been asked to look into purported conduct of former rural development and local government minister Faris Al-Rawi, in procuring the three-year renewal deals of over 300 Community-based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Programme Company (CEPEP) contractors.High Court Judge Margaret Mohammed referred the issue to the DPP yesterday, as she upheld an application from CEPEP’s legal team led by Anand Ramlogan, SC, to stay a lawsuit from one of the contractors over the termination of the contracts.
In her 25-page decision, Justice Mohammed noted that CEPEP had raised serious concerns over a decision taken by its former board to extend the contracts, which were due to end next year, to September 2029, days before the April 28 General Election.
She ruled that its claim that the renewals were facilitated based on a fraudulent misrepresentation of Cabinet approval, allegedly given to former CEPEP chairman Joel Edwards by Al-Rawi, was sufficient enough to be probed by the DPP’s Office.“The serious matters concerning the extension of the agreement to September 2029 necessitate the granting of a stay of the claim and all proceedings and a referral of all the documents filed in this action to the DPP for his consideration,” Justice Mohammed said.Justice Mohammed noted that although Al-Rawi’s alleged conduct was raised in the case, he was not a party to the matter and did not give any evidence.
“In my view, based on the serious allegation made against him, it is only fair that he is given an opportunity to respond,” Justice Mohammed said.“In those circumstances, it is prudent at this stage to grant a stay of this claim and all proceedings and to refer the documents filed in this action to the DPP for his consideration.”She also found merit in CEPEP’s claim that Laventille-based general contracting company Eastman Enterprise Limited, assisted by the People’s National Movement (PNM), rushed to file the lawsuit when a clause in its contract provided for mediation and arbitration before litigation.
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