NEWMAN, OLD PROBLEM

TRINIDAD and Tobago’s taxpayers have funded several commissions of enquiry in recent years – and not a single one has led to the prosecution of public officials.

Or even the resignations of disgraced office-holders!

The brazen move by directors of Paria Fuel Trading Company to clutch onto office fits into a groove dating back decades.

It raises the searching question: Of what real use is a commission of enquiry except to fatten the pockets of the probers and attorneys?

The startling report of the Jerome Lynch Committee accuses Paria’s top brass of “gross negligence” and “criminal” action, but Chairman Newman George and his merry band are still in office.

Worse is that the Rowley Government is doubtlessly shielding the directors.

The Prime Minister is clearly hiding behind the fig leaf that the matter is in the hands of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

It is relevant – and disturbing – that George is a Rowley liming pardner, which should make accountability and transparency even more critical.

Paria’s directors include Peter Clarke, who is Chairman of Guardian Media, which routinely moralises on public issues.

I am not sure whether the Paria director name Fayad Ali is the same character who was touted as a UNC San Fernando West general election candidate in 2020 but later canvassed for the PNM’s Faris al Rawi.

 Taxpayers funded a commission of enquiry into the Calder Hart-era construction industry, which produced 91 recommendations.

There were probes into Clico and Hindu Credit Union, in which there was a roll call of high-priced attorneys.

The report into the enquiry into Las Alturas housing project was ignored, and the David Simmons-led investigation into the bloody 1990 uprising produced no action.

There was a much-hyped probe into the public health sector.

Investigations have been held into various public agencies, including the police service.

An enquiry into the Solomon Hochoy Highway extension has not yet started but has already cost taxpayers $11.6 million.

Altogether, these dead-end investigations must have set back the country by hundreds of millions of dollars.

At Paria, the big-pappies are still in office while grieving families of the deceased divers are awaiting fair dealing and there is no word on implementation of the CoE recommendations.

Justice, T&T style!