Questions for Kate – are there more cheques?

In the wake of revelations about cheques written to the PNM by some of the same contractors who have been named in a very costly investigation, there are some further questions that need to be answered by the private police force currently being funded by the taxpayers of Trinidad and Tobago.

UK firm Edmonds Marshall McMahon (EMM) and one of their founding partners Kate McMahon have been paid handsomely to investigate a matter involving the EMBD and certain contractors. They have usurped the role and function of the TTPS senior management in terms of giving directions to junior officers in the conduct of investigations and it appears, are advising the TTPS on legal matters which is the remit of the DPP.

It has now come to our attention that the some of the same contractors whose bank records are being examined, contributed generously to the PNM in 2010 just before the general elections. Is this information being ignored by the British “fraud busters” who are cherry-picking evidence?

In another document supplied by an anonymous whistle-blower, which was addressed to “Assistant Commissioner of Police – White Collar Crime” an Inspector of Police who is titled “Team Lead, EMBD Investigation” gives the impression that this investigation is focused on five contractors making political contributions or paying “election expenses”

However the report from the Team Lead states that there is “no direct evidence” that this was done as a reward for the EMBD contract amounts paid out. He states “at this point it is assumed this was the case and remains circumstantial in terms of timing, amounts”

He then goes on to state quite factually that “the payment of election contributions outside of some proved compromising actions is the norm in T&T and not contrary to law.”

In the face of this report, dated 17th March 2021, one wonders why the British private police had their contract renewed? In fact, another report from said Team Lead states that the further retention of this UK team was unnecessary.

The former Commissioner has publicly stated that the PM tried to pressure him to investigate UNC MPs and directed the TTPS to utilise $35M to pay foreign lawyers to participate in these investigations.

Is it that the PNM gave this UK team a desired result and they are working backwards to create a narrative which is simply unsupported by evidence? Was the contract to EMM renewed because the TTPS officers involved in the investigation were not willing to act as political operatives and act on a case theory founded upon inferences and assumptions but were instead being objective and professional in their conduct?

It is also noteworthy that some of the contractors named in that document not only wrote these sizable cheques to the PNM in 2010, but are also now the beneficiaries of large construction contracts from the Rowley administration.

This begs the question – in the course of examining bank records of these contractors, have any more payments to the PNM been uncovered? Prior to the 2015 and 2020 general elections, how many payments were made by these contractors which can be linked to election expenses or political parties? Or as hired guns, is EMM and SRP Kate selecting information that suits their needs and helps them to fulfil their directive from the PNM?

Investigators and particularly prosecutors who work for the State (and not for the government of the day or any political party) are supposed to be independent, neutral and objective in the course of carrying out their duties. This is why our TTPS, DPP and Police Service Commission enjoy constitutional protection. The government appears to have found a way around this by contracting out these functions.

The information coming to light about EMM’s mandate to focus on political targets and their willingness to do so (for a steep price) brings their independence and the value of this investigation into question.

Whilst the DPP’s office is so starved of resources they are buckling under the weight of bail applications, Kate and team are here on our shores to facilitate Rowley’s diabolical agenda and we the taxpayers are forced to foot the bill.

Senator Jayanti R. Lutchmedial