FORMER prime minister Basdeo Panday says now that the Piarco airport corruption charges against him have been dropped, he will have to "reconstitute my life."
He was responding on Monday hours after Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard, SC, told a Port of Spain magistrate he was discontinuing the charges against Panday, his wife Oma, one-time UNC financier Ishwar Galbaransingh and former UNC government minister Carlos John.
Speaking during an interview with Caribbean Lifestyle Communications (Music Radio 97FM, Radio 90.5FM and Heartbeat Radio 104.1FM) – a copy of which CL Communications sent to Newsday – Panday said:
"This has been a burden, hanging upon my shoulders and my whole personality for some 18 years. Now that it is over, I have to reconstitute my life. Ahm, I suppose this was a political prosecution. It seems that they cannot forgive me for building the finest airport in the Caribbean."
John and Galbaransingh, when contacted by Newsday, gave contrasting reactions to the end of the case in which they, Panday and his wife were charged with corruption relating to the $1.6 billion Piarco airport terminal construction project.
[caption id="attachment_1004368" align="alignnone" width="338"] Former UNC government minister Carlos John. FILE PHOTO -[/caption]
On Monday, before magistrate Adia Mohammed, Gaspard made the bombshell announcement that he was discontinuing the charges against the four.
When contacted, John said, “I’m certainly relieved,” adding that “the system also requires a review, if not an overhaul.”
When Newsday made its own attempts to reach the Pandays by cellphone and at home, there was no answer. One of their lawyers – who said he could not speak on their behalf – said the couple intend to issue a statement “in due course.” Up to press time on Monday night, no statement was forthcoming.
'POLITICAL PERSECUTION'
For his part, an "elated" Galbaransingh had some strong words for former attorney general John Jeremie, SC, who held office when the charges against the four were laid.
He referred to the June 2022 ruling of the Privy Council, in which five British law lords said the committal of the accused in the Piarco 1 inquiry, by deceased former chief magistrate Sherman McNicolls on a slew of fraud and corruption-related offences, was tainted by apparent political bias.
The law lords said McNicolls was “hopelessly compromised” by assistance from Jeremie on a land purchase. Galbaransingh said he was relieved the "truth" had surfaced after so many years.
He maintained the charges were a "politically-motivated persecution." He accused Jeremie and the PNM of creating "innuendo for political gain."
"It has been their mantra for the last 20 years to brand the UNC as corrupted," said Galbaransingh, who at one time was said to be a UNC financier. He bemoaned the effect the 18-year-old case had had on him, his business and his family.
"I suffered losses in all my bu
