Tag: Colman Report

Letter to the Editor – Publish the Colman Report into the collapse of CL Financial NOW

July 25, 2025
The Editor,

Some nine years after its completion, we now need to have the Colman Report into the collapse of the CL Financial Group published.

The bailout of the CL Financial Group (CLF) started in January 2009 and consumed over $25 Billion in Public Money, in circumstances which remain mostly unclear, even after a full-scale Commission of Enquiry into the collapse of both CLF and the Hindu Credit Union (HCU), conducted by the late Sir Anthony Colman QC.

That Commission of Enquiry was ordered by the PP govt, led by Kamla Persad-Bissessar, which marked a welcome spell of lucidity in that troubled period of growing financial turmoil. The 2010 budget speech by then Finance Minister Winston Dookeran (pgs 342 to 345) gave the required clarity and purpose to the proper understanding of the CL Financial collapse and the consequent bailout, which he was proposing to re-order. Then PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s speech on 1st October 2010 (pgs 19 to 34) made irrefutable points on the mishandling of the bailout and proposed the Commission of Enquiry.

This Season with the two-month transition from Emancipation Day on 1st August to Independence on the 31st of August, then onto Republic Day on 24th September is one of sober reflection and re-dedication for me. It seems to me that the very sequence of events and the consequent holidays in the season imbue it with an inner meaning about national transition to some kind of depth and purpose, but maybe that is just sentimental of me, we will see.

This Season of Reflection beckons yet another Sankofa Moment in which I will contemplate our past efforts so as to better understand our future. 

Colman’s Report was completed in two parts – 

  • the HCU part was published by the PP govt to its immense credit, immediately upon its completion, in July 2014;
  • The CL Financial part was completed at the end of June 2016, but the PNM govt did not publish that Report, citing the DPP’s reported concerns that doing so would imperil any future prosecutions – viz then-PM Dr Keith Rowley’s address to Parliament on 1st July 2016 (pgs 193 to 199).

Nine years have now passed, with no reported arrests, charges, prosecutions or asset seizures. I have repeatedly requested an update from the DPP, but that is that.

The newly elected UNC govt, under Kamla Persad-Bissessar SC, has promised to publish the Colman Report into the collapse of CL Financial and I have no reason whatsoever to doubt that commitment, given their estimable performance on this issue. I am calling for that Report to be published now.

Afra Raymond
afraraymond.net

CL Financial bailout – Fear of the Facts

PM issues Statement on CLICO Report of Sir Anthony David Colman, QC. Courtesy news.gov.tt

“…Whilst in the last five-year administration, the management of Clico, CLF and the associated companies were shrouded in secrecy by the UNC administration, this PNM Government has no intention of operating in that manner. This Government will operate in an open, transparent and accountable manner as it has been doing…“ (The emphases are mine)

—Extract from Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s statement to Parliament on the Colman Report on Friday, 1 July 2016.

SIDEBAR: CORRECTION

On the issue of interest due on Public Money advanced for the CL Financial bailout
I have been stating that the Public Money advanced for this CL Financial bailout was interest-free and that was a clear indication of the ‘most-favoured’ status of the borrowers. With apologies to my readers, CLICO’s 2015 audited accounts, (which were issued on 17th October 2016) disclose at its 32nd note that 4.75% was charged on the first tranche of $5Bn which was lent in 2009, so my prior claims on that item are now withdrawn. That first advance was converted to 4.75% preference shares, so interest was charged on the bailout monies but at such a paltry rate as to leave my fundamental point undisturbed, as explained below.

The Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) is a metric used to show what is the average cost of the capital raised by a company. It is a vital tool in strategic management and allows the company’s leaders to make effective borrowing decisions.

If we apply this approach to the CL Financial bailout the answer is instructive. So, one can assume that the total advanced is $25Bn with only 4.75% interest on the first $5Bn and no interest on any more of the Public Money advanced to CLF. Accordingly, given that only 20% of the CLF bailout pays interest at 4.75% and the other 80% is at zero-percent, the WACC is .95%. Yes, less than 1% is the interest due from CLF for this epic loan. I tell you.

Once again, there are multiple versions of reality operating in relation to the CL Financial bailout, like some award-winning ScyFy movie. In one dimension, we have the PM accusing the previous regime of untoward secrecy while pledging to be open, transparent and accountable. In another dimension, we have a Minister of Finance promising to give us all the details of the monies spent on this bailout, while battling in the Appeal Court to overturn the High Court judgment I won to have those same details published. At the same time, Lawrence Duprey lobbies for the return of the CL Financial companies to him, while sidestepping any proper explanation of what went wrong. Both the PM and the Central Bank Governor label the CL Financial chiefs in scathing terms, while refusing to insist on proper commercial terms for the enormous financial assistance of the State. In yet another dimension, the State is said to be weathering a series of tough financial challenges, while showing stunning generosity to the wealthiest man in the Caribbean.

To paraphrase Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Junot Diaz – ‘ScyFy? What ScyFy?! The Antilles was Scyfy before there was ScyFy!‘

In July 2015, the High Court ruled in my favour that details of the CLF bailout were to be published by the Ministry of Finance, but that ruling has now been appealed.

Min of FInance, Colm Imbert, MP

The Ministry’s appeal, which was submitted on Friday 30th December 2016, has these main points –

  • CLF Accounts – The order to provide the accounts used by a previous Finance Minister to prepare a High Court affidavit is being contested as being a breach of legal professional privilege;
  • Parliamentary briefing – The order to provide the briefing to Independent Senators prior to debate on two laws on the CLF bailout is being contested as a breach of parliamentary privilege;
  • Who got paid? – The order to provide the names of those who were paid in the CLF bailout and the date of those payments is being contested as inimical to the confidentiality which a private person should enjoy.

Those arguments are only now being introduced, for the first time, during this appeal. That fact alone I consider to be unacceptable, but the points are being contested strongly and of course the Court of Appeal will be ruling on them.

For those readers who might consider the ScyFy comparison to be an overdone one, just consider how the Minister of Finance has approached the appeal with these further excerpts from Dr Rowley’s important address to the Parliament –

“…once the Minister of Finance has completed his on-going audit, he will come to Parliament and tell the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago the exact amount of money expended by the Government with respect to the said bailout. This will include the cost incurred by lawyers, accountants, professionals and all others. Furthermore, any and all disposal of assets from the group will be announced to the public in an open and transparent manner as well…”

At a time of economic sacrifice, the free-ticket given to CLF in January 2009, by the Patrick Manning-led Cabinet is being endorsed and renewed for further travel by the Keith Rowley-led Cabinet…this is where we are…

The Colman Report

PM issues Statement on CLICO Report of Sir Anthony David Colman, QC. Courtesy news.gov.tt
PM issues Statement on CLICO Report of Sir Anthony David Colman, QC. Courtesy news.gov.tt

“…This country should rest comfortably in the knowledge that the Government of Trinidad and Tobago…will do nothing to impede the flow of justice in this or any matter. And we will do everything within its duty and authority to facilitate the holding to account any and all persons who may have been found to have questions to answer. Like every other citizen, it is our expectation that as rights to fair treatment are protected, justice must always take its course swiftly…”
—Extract from Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s statement to Parliament on the Colman Report on Friday, 1 July 2016. The emphases are mine.

This season is always one of reflection and re-dedication for me, with the two month transition from Emancipation Day on 1 August to Independence on the 31 August, then onto Republic Day on 24 September. I always spend this spell in some sober reflection, in between the life. It seems to me that the very sequence of events and the consequent holidays in the season imbue it with an inner meaning in terms of a national transition to some kind of depth and purpose. Emancipation to Independence to Republican status…maybe that is just sentimental of me, but let us see.

If we are not vigilant, there is a real danger that the details of this entire CL Financial matter – both the failure of the group and the huge bailout – will be made to disappear in an epic legal mangle. There has never been a conviction for large-scale white collar crime in our country. The CL Financial collapse is such a serious episode that there is inescapable evidence which can ensure consequences. At the same time, the main players are so wealthy and influential that they can devise an effective way to avoid justice, unless we exercise vigilance in the public interest. Continue reading “The Colman Report” →