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  • 1 year ago
Death threats allegedly made to a senior official of the San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation connected to contracts have fuelled an internal investigation into the matter by the Ministry of Local Government.


The man in the hot seat claims it's all fabricated, as Senior Multimedia Journalist and Producer Mark Bassant explains in this TV6 Investigation, 'Corporation on Edge'.
Transcript
00:00Death threats allegedly made to a senior official of the San Juan Lavent Hill Regional Corporation
00:05connected to contracts have fuelled an internal investigation
00:09into the matter by the Ministry of Local Government.
00:11The man in the hot seat claims it's all fabricated.
00:15A senior multimedia journalist and producer,
00:17Mark Vasant explains in this TV6 investigation, Corporation on Edge.
00:22Over the last two months, tensions have been building here at the San Juan Lavent Hill
00:33Regional Corporation, triggered by a warring incident.
00:38That incident involves the alleged threats to a senior member of the corporation
00:43which played out at a corporation meeting in late August.
00:47That matter has now been investigated internally
00:50but has also drawn the attention of law enforcement authorities.
00:55Several sources at the corporation say there's an element of fear among employees following
01:00what transpired on August 20th during that corporation meeting.
01:04TV6 News obtained a copy of the minutes of that August meeting which were ratified
01:08and confirmed at a finance meeting held by the corporation on September 17th.
01:13What played off in the August meeting triggered the CEO of the San Juan Lavent Hill Regional
01:17Corporation, Vernice Campbell, to make a report to the Barataria Police Station.
01:21At that September 17th finance meeting, Councillor Kwesi Antwine was present
01:26along with 23 other people and would have been aware of what transpired at the previous meeting
01:31but we'll get to that shortly.
01:34During the August 20th meeting, discussions were raised by Councillor Kwesi Antwine
01:38about the development projects regarding contracts.
01:42Antwine, who is also the vice chairman of the corporation
01:44and also represents the Caledonia Upper Malik area,
01:48according to the minutes of the meeting raised the issue of why no contracts
01:52had been given to young creative minds and also stated that the corporation was taking
01:56advantage of people in this district and asked what the CEO was doing about it.
02:02The minutes of the meeting states, open quote,
02:04Councillor Antwine added that he was going and while up the block later and asked the
02:08CEO if she felt it was a clown thing, close quote.
02:12Later in the minutes it also stated, open quote,
02:15the Councillor added that he was going to take this matter further as he has exhausted himself.
02:20He further stated that he was not holding back this time and he was going to inform
02:24the people in his electoral district that the CEO did not give contracts to local content.
02:30The minutes show that the Councillor Antwine further stated that he would also inform the
02:34contractors that it was the CEO's fault as to why they were not given the opportunity for a
02:39contract and for the contractors to check the CEO and let her tell them why they were not selected.
02:46He specified that he would not be intervening on behalf of the CEO, close quote.
02:50At least eight insiders at the corporation told TV6 News that the CEO,
02:54Vanessa Campbell, was traumatized after that meeting and believed she could become a target,
03:00prompting her to later report an alleged threat to her life at the Barataria Police Station.
03:05Sources say that Campbell took emergency leave for a few days thereafter.
03:09When we contacted Campbell by her phone on October 1st,
03:12she confirmed the incident at the corporation's meeting in August
03:15but reverted any further questions to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government.
03:20On October 3rd, during a telephone conversation with Minister of Local Government Farris Alrawi,
03:25he told TV6 News in reference to the allegations raised at the corporation meeting, open quote,
03:31There is an internal investigation into the matter and a copy of the minutes was sent to
03:34the PS and certain steps will be taken under her purview. A proper report is also expected
03:40in relation to this matter, close quote. On October 7th, TV6 News contacted Councillor
03:45Antoine to ask about the events that allegedly transpired during the August 20th meeting.
03:51Antoine said he was seeking counsel from his attorneys.
04:01We also indicated to Antoine that the local government minister had confirmed
04:16that an internal investigation is being pursued by the Permanent Secretary.
04:20TV6 News also sent Antoine several questions via WhatsApp on October 7th
04:25related to what was allegedly brought up in the meeting. And on Wednesday, October 10th,
04:29he responded through his attorneys. In essence, Antoine claimed through his attorneys
04:34that the minutes of the August meeting, which were confirmed and ratified at another corporation
04:39meeting in September, at which he was present on both occasions, had been in some way altered,
04:45open quote. Please note that we have not been informed of any complaints being made to either
04:50the Permanent Secretary or the Minister. To date, the information regarding alleged complaints being
04:55made about our client comes from conversation, rumour and report. Notwithstanding, we are
05:00informed that the said complaints are based upon minutes which our client contends were altered
05:06and remain unconfirmed by the Council of the Corporation. Consequently, we have written to
05:11the Permanent Secretary's acting of the Ministry of Rural Development and the local government
05:15seeking copies of the alleged complaint letters so that we may advise our client accordingly
05:20and from an informed position. Further, we wish to ascertain how allegations can be made based
05:26upon altered and unconfirmed minutes. It is also warranted information that the Honourable Minister
05:30has received a similar, if not identical complaint. We repeat that it is unfathomable that a complaint
05:36can be made to any Minister the basis upon which is altered and unconfirmed minutes.
05:42Accordingly, our client denies any allegations made against him and contends that any reliance
05:47upon or investigation arising as a result of altered and unconfirmed minutes is a departure
05:52from due process and the principles of natural justice, particularly as our client has not been
05:58informed on the record of any allegations made against him nor has he been given any opportunity
06:04to be heard in answer to same. We are instructed to take all legal steps to protect and defend
06:09the reputation and character of our client as an upstanding and effective elected local government
06:14representative as he places the interests of his electoral district at the forefront of his actions
06:19and will continue to represent his businesses without fear or fever, malice or ill will.
06:25Also raised in the minutes of the August 20th meeting, it stated,
06:29Councillor Antwine indicated that he has a recording of the underhand scheme between
06:33the Municipal Superintendent and the Engineer and Survey Officer regarding the development contracts.
06:39Quote, we contacted the former Municipal Superintendent Rashid Mohamed who the
06:44allegations were made against. Mohamed speaking to us on October 7th said there was a procedure
06:48to follow in granting development contracts which he said was done above board contrary to claims
06:54made by Councillor Antwine. Open quote, the evaluation committee has to follow the tenders
06:59and evaluation process and I was not part of that committee but those who qualified for the contracts
07:05had the relevant documentation and finances whereas some of the contractors for local content
07:10that Mr Antwine referred to did not have neither the documentation or finances to sustain the
07:16project. Close quote, in fact Mohamed alleged that even when contractors were given the jobs
07:21legitimately in these areas they still cannot walk into these areas and a fee has to be paid
07:27to people in a specific area. Mohamed believes that because he was trying to do the right thing
07:32his year and a half contract was not renewed two months ago. Mohamed also said that a muffled
07:37recording was played during the August meeting by Antwine that was indiscernible and nothing
07:42ever came of the allegations. We also spoke to Engineer Riyaz Ramkisun about the allegations
07:47made by Antwine and he told us that he had no comment on the matter and it was in the hands of
07:52his attorneys. Questions had been sent also on this matter to Antwine but this was not addressed
07:58by his attorneys and their blanketed response to the allegations about the minutes of the meeting
08:03contrary to what others had told TV6 News being altered in some way. His attorneys also did not
08:09address claims made by several employees that they had been intimidated in the past by Antwine.
08:15Mark Besant, TV6 News. Senior Superintendent of the Northeastern Division Mervyn Edwards confirmed
08:22to TV6 News that the police had opened a criminal investigation into the matter.
08:27Edwards said it was directly under his supervision and the matter was being investigated
08:32by Inspector Nash of the Barataria Police Station. Edwards said he could not make any
08:38further comment on the matter at this time.
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