Panday’s $10-million probe

PORT-OF-SPAIN — The Integrity Commission of Trinidad and Tobago is currently conducting a probe to determine whether there has indeed been a “full disclosure” of former prime minister Basdeo Panday’s assests held in London that could amount to some TT$10 million (TT$6=US$1).

The Sunday Express in a report yesterday said that while the head of the commission, retired judge Gerard des Iles, has refused to make any comment on the matter, it was informed that the bank account under investigation contains deposits totalling £1 million or TT$10 million.

The private account is jointly held by Panday and his wife, Oma. And, according to the newspaper’s report, sources close to the Pandays have, however, “dismissed that figure as ‘fanciful’, saying it was closer to £200,000.

Panday himself has declined to offer a comment, contending that he should not do so while an “investigation” was said to be under way.

The probe is reported to have resulted from an initiative by current Attorney-General Glenda Morean, who has briefed members of the Integrity Commission and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mark Mohammed, on the issue of Panday’s London account.

The DPP said he had no comment and the commission’s chairman, Des lles, maintained that all members of the state-appointed watchdog body, that has been in existence for some time, were “constitutionally bound” to protect the secrecy of information before it.

However, said the Express, it has learnt from informed sources that while the commission as a whole had agreed on the need to pursue investigation into the matter as a consequence of information received, “members remain divided on attempts by Attorney-General Morean to have Panday arrested on charges of failing to declare the private account and the filing of a false declaration”.

A week ago Panday, leader of the United National Congress, had told a Mother’s Day function that there was a “plot” by the government to arrest him on “some false charges”, but that he was not afraid.

Gunmen force medical clinic to cut services

BRIDGETOWN — Robbery attacks by armed gunmen have forced a private medical clinic in Bridgetown to bring to an immediate end its traditional 24-hour round-the-clock services.

The Family Medical Health clinic, popularly known as ‘FMH’ and operating just a few blocks away from the state-run Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), has been serving as a useful alternative for quick and emergency medical attention for people from various strata of society, particularly because of the long wait they have to endure at the QEH.

However, following the armed robbery shortly after midnight on Saturday of a number of persons waiting in the compound of the FMH for persons receiving medical attention and the threat of a gunman to force his way into the clinic, panicking staff and patients, the institution decided to terminate its regular 24-hour services.

Director of FMH, Dr Harold Watson announced that all services normally offered would be available only up to midnight and that more precaution would be taken to protect staff and members of the public seeking medical attention.

He said he had just finished suturing a patient’s lip when he heard the constant banging at the closed front door and noticed a man armed with a gun trying to gain entry and threatening to shoot the traumatised staff and patients.

“We are not a bank or one of those types of businesses. This is where the buck has to stop, since we have an obligation to our staff who work all hours to save lives and help those in need of urgent medical attention,” declared Dr Watson.

He is summoning an emergency meeting of doctors and other staff of the medical clinic to discuss what new arrangements must be made, apart from reduced opening hours for business.

In the wake of a series of gun-related crimes, Barbados has significantly toughened penalties.