Opposition Leader: Terminate A&V contract, call in Fraud Squad

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar has called on Government to immediately terminate Petrotrin’s contract with A&V Oil and Gas Ltd and for a criminal investigation to be launched by the Fraud Squad.

Persad-Bissessar, speaking to the media following cottage meetings on Friday night in the East West Corridor, gave this response to findings from a forensic audit report by Kroll Consulting Canada Company. The report revealed Petrotrin paid A&V for oil produced between January to June which it did not receive.

Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has described A&V CEO Hanif Baksh as a “friend” and on Friday night Persad-Bissessar took Rowley to task over the relationship.

“What does the Prime Minister now have to say about his BFF? His best friend. He admitted this man was his friend. When this story broke in Trinidad he was in California. And when he came back he admitted he had called the gentleman. He didn’t call his Minister of Energy, he didn’t call anyone from the Petrotrin board. He called his best friend. So I would really like to hear what the Prime Minister has to say now.”

In a statement on Friday, Rowley said the matter will be dealt with by the Petrotrin board and the Energy Ministry.

Persad-Bissessar said in following the money the State may have to freeze the assets of the “individual” (Baksh). She also said all documents should be taken into possession by law enforcement officers.

Persad-Bissessar also asked about the position of a “PNM senator”, likely a reference to Allyson Baksh, daughter of Baksh, who serves as a government senator.

There were unconfirmed reports yesterday that Allyson had resigned from the Senate.

Three calls and a message to PNM PRO Stuart Young went unanswered up to press time and attempts to contact PNM chairman Franklin Khan via telephone were also unsuccessful.