[UPDATED] CONTEMPT

INDEPENDENT Senator Anthony Vieira, the chairman of a Joint Select Committee (JSC) on local authorities, service commissions, and statutory authorities, yesterday said the refusal of any witness to answer questions from the committee may be treated as contempt and punished according to law.

He made this statement at the close of yesterday's hearing at the Parliament Tower in Port of Spain, after Cepep chairman Ashton Ford walked out of the hearing, refusing to stay while former external auditor for Cepep Anil Bridglal was present.

Vieira said, "We are a creature of the Constitution. We have a particular role and function to perform. Our hours are regulated under the Standing Orders of the Constitution. Chairman Ford is a chairman of a state enterprise. This is a body that is in receipt of state funds.

"We have the power under the law to censure persons, papers, records and the power to require witnesses to answer questions. And witnesses must answer all questions put to them. In fact, a refusal to answer questions is tantamount to obstruction of the committee and may be treated as a contempt and punished. Chairman Ford is under duty to assist us in our inquiry."

He said he understood the matter had been "somewhat emotional" for Ford, but was disappointed Ford had chosen to absent himself from the inquiry.

"While I certainly do not want to characterise his actions, I don't want this to be a precedent. So the committee is going to deliberate and consider whatever recommendations we will do in terms of dealing with this situation, and I leave it at that."

Ford walked out during his opening statement in which he said contractors owed $160 million for workers' national insurance, which they did not pay. He also said that between June to August 2015, there was a $100 million debt for short-term projects, with one contractor doing nothing, but making a claim for $3 million.

Ford said $143 million was spent on box drains in the Penal/Debe area, there was outstanding money for the Board of Inland Revenue, and marine and coastal contractors received $25,000 a month.

During these statements Vieira interrupted Ford, saying he wanted to hear from auditor Bridglal first. But Ford expressed displeasure saying he would not stay to hear Bridglal. He said the company was trying to deal with the matter internally, but Bridglal had refused to meet with the internal audit committee.

"I am here now, so he wants to talk," Ford said. "I will not take part, because he wanted to control the board, and somehow he has gotten involved and he is here and insists on having me present, I don't want to be present." Shortly after, Ford got up and walked out of the room.
Cepep general manager Keith Eddy said during the time of these discrepancies, none of the present board and management was in office.

JSC member Wade Mark expressed "complete shock and disappointment at the disrespect and contempt shown towards this committee by the chairman of Cepep." Contacted later yesterday, Ford said the JSC "called that meeting for the auditor."

"Remember, I was making my statement, all those discrepancies – $160 million, $121 million – no one picked up anything like that. So I was going into that, and you see the chairman stopped me and he say, 'let the auditor talk first.' I tried to explain to him that these things could have been settled if the external auditor had met with the audit committee.

"He refused to meet with the audit committee unless I am present, and I am holding a letter in my hand from (Finance) Minister (Colm) Imbert saying the chairman must not attend or get involved in meetings with audits and tenders."

Ford said he knew Bridglal was going to be present at the JSC hearing, but he did not know why. "It was so embarrassing. We could have gotten our finance person to come and deal with him, but it is a one-sided thing."

Ford also complained, "We have to answer for all the bacchanal that happened before our time, you know. We have no matter before the courts during our time. There is absolutely nothing going on with us."

Ford claimed a person had refused to co-operate during meetings of the Cepep internal audit committee and that that person wanted to meet with him privately. "I can't meet people privately in this business. I want to meet with a committee, with plenty people around," he said.

This story was originally published with the title "Cepep chair walks out of JSC meeting" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

Chairman of the Cepep Company Ltd Ashton Ford walked out of the Joint Select Committee on State Enterprises hearing this morning, refusing to participate if the auditors were allowed to sit in.

Ford said he would not stay at the meeting if Anil Bridglal, managing partner of Hardys Chartered Accountants, was allowed to contribute.

He said despite the board's attempts to resolve the payment of outstanding fees to contractors internally, Hardys Chartered Accountants refused to meet to confirm the figures.

"I will not take part in this meeting. Because this gentleman refused to meet with the audit comittee, he insists on meeting with me," Ford said.

After Ford left, Bridglal said he could not issue an audit opinion because the company refused to supply pertinent information on going concerns.

Committee member Wade Mark later described Ford's walkout as disrespectful.