THE Opposition People’s National Party says it is concerned that the Financial Sector Adjustment Company (Finsac) has no legal representation at the sittings of the Commission of Enquiry examining the causes of the financial crisis of the mid 1990s.

Former PNP justice minister AJ Nicholson said that it is unacceptable that the state-run institution, against which “several damming accusations have been levelled, is devoid of legal representation, even to question the allegations which are being made”.

“It is manifestly prejudicial and unfair to the persons who served as board members and management of Finsac during the period covered by the enquiry, for the institution to be left hanging out to dry in this enquiry without effective legal representation in the face of such accusations,” Nicholson said in a statement this afternoon.

He called on finance minister Audley Shaw and the present board of Finsac to explain the rationale for the decision to leave the institution without representation.

“Such a decision not only undermines the credibility of the eventual findings of the commissioners but also, and perhaps more importantly, demonstrates a corrupt use of state power,” Nicholson said.

“We cannot help but draw the conclusion that this is a deliberate attempt to distort the conduct of the hearings and, ultimately, for a biased report to be presented.”

Questions have also been raised about Finsac’s lack of representation by other attorneys watching the proceedings.

Related story:

Where are Finsac’s lawyers?