Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has ordered legal action against Member of Parliament for Port of Spain South, Keith Scotland, accusing his chambers of fraudulent misrepresentation at T&TEC.
In a fiery disclosure, the Prime Minister exposed a web of protection for a high-profile political financier, claiming state funds were deliberately compromised.
Speaking in the House of Representatives, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar revealed a manufacturing company racked up over two point three million dollars in unpaid electricity arrears over a five-year period between 2017 and 2022.
Opposition MP Keith Scotland’s law chambers was contracted by the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) to represent the state entity in a legal claim against the manufacturing company to recover the outstanding sum.
However, she claims the company’s owner is a PNM financier and Mr. Scotland did not do everything in his power to ensure the money was recovered, including filing key legal documents.
As a result, the Prime Minister announced that the state is striking back, calling for immediate accountability from Mr. Scotland’s chambers.
“For fraudulent misrepresentation, professional negligence and breach of contract. I’ve also directed that consideration be given to a formal complaint to the Disciplinary Committee of the Law Association for breach of the Code of Conduct, pursuant to the Legal Profession Act.”
The Prime Minister further alleged that the evidence crossed the threshold into potential criminal conduct.
“I have also directed that this matter be reported to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Fraud Squad and also to the ACIB THE Anti-corruption bureau, for investigation and to determine whether criminal charges should be laid for conspiracy to defraud T&TEC, misfeasance and corruption.”
Mrs Persad-Bissessar also read into the parliamentary record a list of high-ranking officials who she claims were placed on T&TEC’s elite, secret “protected list” to ensure they were shielded from electricity disconnections despite any non-payment.