On 10 August 2015, the then Minister of Finance and the Economy appealed the High Court’s 22 July 2015 judgment which ordered the release of the details on the CL Financial bailout. My protest at this action was published in this space as ‘Studied Disdain‘. Since then, the General Election of 7 September 2015 brought about a change of government – the People’s Partnership is now the official Opposition and the People’s National Movement is once again the government.
It is essential to now determine the areas in which we can expect changes in policy and the areas in which we can expect business as usual. Those perspectives informed my letter of 15 September 2015 to the new Minister of Finance & the Economy, Colm Imbert.
Imbert asked for more time to consider my request, so I consented to his application to the Appeal Court – the next hearing in this matter is therefore set for 25th January 2016.
My exchanges thus far with Imbert have been straightforward ones, but it is always important for us to be vigilant and aware.
By email & hand
Mr Colm Imbert MP,
Minister of Finance & the Economy,
Ministry of Finance & the Economy,
8th Floor,
Eric Williams Financial Complex,
Brian Lara Promenade,
Port-of-Spain
The High Court ruled in my favour on 22 July 2015 and ordered the publication of the requested details, but on 10th August 2015 the Ministry of Finance appealed that ruling (P201 – 2015). Our next hearing is set for Monday 19th October 2015, to argue the State’s application for extension of the stay of execution. It is my intention to strongly oppose that application for any extension of the stay of execution.I am formally requesting that you take the necessary actions to restore the Public Interest in the Accountability, Transparency and Good Governance in relation to this vast, opaque expenditure of Public Money.In specific terms, I am requesting three actions from you –
- Formal withdrawal of the State’s appeal in this matter;
- Urgent publication of the details of the CL Financial bailout to include the audited accounts for CL Financial 2008-2014 or any interim, preliminary, draft or unaudited statements of CL Financial Limited; the full details of the official briefing to Independent Senators in September 2011 preparatory to the debate on The Central Bank (Amendment) Bill and The Purchase of Rights and Validation Bill 2011 (to include copies of all slides. Power-Point slides, tables, charts, schedules, text or other information which comprised that presentation) and details of the funds paid in the bailout to include – a full list of creditors as at the commencement date of the bailout and at the date of my FoIA request (8th May 2012); the names of the EFPA holders; the dates of the repayments of the EFPA holders, together with details of the amounts received; the identities of all those who have received public money in the conduct of this exercise, together with details of the amounts received. These details are no doubt electronically stored, so I would request that the answers be provided in a searchable database;
- Refund of my reasonable legal fees in this matter – The High Court awarded 70% of my costs.
In anticipation of objections to disclosing these details on the grounds of the right of private investors to confidentiality, my response would be to point out that all other recipients of Public Funds are liable to having detailed information disclosed, upon request and without notice. A request for information on the details of a Public contract would include the identities of the parties; the contract itself; the dates and amounts of payments. Such requests are routinely handled without resort to attorneys or even the Courts, even if administrative delay is also a reality. That is the common and accepted practice in relation to all Public contracts and payments, which is fortified by the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, under which my litigation was successful. There is no case made for any special status of financial investors to enjoy rights of confidentiality which are not available to other recipients of Public Funds.
The only way for the required level of transparency and accountability to be achieved is by the responsible officials publishing all the details of all the payments of Public Money.
The equation for the reality check is –
Expenditure of Public Money Minus Transparency Minus Accountability Equals CORRUPTION
I can appreciate that the impending 2016 budget would likely demand your attention for the next three weeks. I would like to know the State’s position in this matter before the next Appeal Court hearing on Monday 19th October 2015, so I would appreciate your reply by Friday 9th October 2015.
This request was made in the Public Interest, so I trust that it will receive your positive attention.
Yours sincerely,
……………………………………………….
Afra Raymond
c.c. – Dr. Keith Rowley MP, Prime Minister,
Mr. Faris Al Rawi MP, Attorney General
How much has the CL Financial bailout cost?’
TIMELINE
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DATE
EVENT
SOURCE
with live hyperlinks
30th January 2009
Bailout announced at an estimated cost of $5.0 Billion
12th June 2009
CL Financial Shareholders’ Agreement signed, which for the first time made it a priority to protect shareholders’ rights.
– see Para ‘A’ of the Preamble at page two.
8th September 2010
Winston Dookeran’s first Budget Statement, in which he formally proposes to drastically reduce the rate of payout of Public Money in the bailout.
pages eight through ten.
1st October 2010
Then PM confirms that $7.3 Bn had been spent and that a further $7.0 Bn needed to be spent (pg 31). The burning need for an explanation of where the $7.3 Bn went…(pgs 25-26)
Hansard for 1st October 2010 –
pages 19 through 34.
3rd April 2012
Then Finance Minister Winston Dookeran confirms that $12 Bn had been spent.
Affidavit to High Court in Percy Farrell & Ors vs AG –
para 21.
1st October 2012
New Finance Minister Larry Howai confirms that $19.7 Bn had been spent, which is an additional $7.7 Bn in six months.
page six.
17th May 2013
Formal confirmation of bailout cost “…over $25 Bn…”
Formal Press Release from Office of the AG –
para eight.
2nd April 2014
Then Finance Minister Howai confirms bailout cost as – “… the cost to the country of the CL Financial bailout—the actual cash that has been put out—is approximately$20.8 billion...”
Hansard for Senate sitting of 2ndApril 2014 –
page 35.
7th August 2015
Then Finance Minister Howai confirms bailout cost as ‘not quite $20 Bn‘.
CNMG interview
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AfraRaymond.net 
It is sadly ironic that the Islamic State supporters are quickly condemned, their property legally confiscated and their international travel subject to state approval. Daryan Warner is tried and convicted for corruption but NOT ONE PERSON is condemned for the mismanagement of 26 billion taxpayers dollars since 2008, no substantial results on the 11 accused for Dana Seetahal’s execution on 4th May 2014, the Uff report since September 2009, the Bernard Report of 2003 on the missing billion dollars of the Piarco Airport scandal all remain in cobwebs and the ‘wise ones’ are silent. Uninformed and misguided, people still trust ‘our leaders’. Perhaps we should read carefully the following: http://www.imranhosein.org/articles/islam-and-politics/81-a-muslim-response-to-anti-terrorism-legislation.html before we determine whose side we take.