PNM Council leader: Audio-clip scandal Tobago’s edition of Section 34

Leader of the Tobago Council of the People’s National Movement (PNM) Ancil Dennis has labelled the allegations of a government-led conspiracy made by THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine as “rants by a dangerous and desperate chief secretary.”

Dennis made the remarks as he addressed members of the media on Thursday at a press conference at the council’s office in Scarborough, where he also denied taking any part in a plot to discredit the Augustine-led assembly. The accusations were made by Augustine in a special sitting of the Assembly on Wednesday at the Assembly Legislature.

“People of Tobago, we must recognise and understand that we are been led at this time by a dangerous and desperate chief secretary.”

This comes in the midst of the police search of the homes of a former chief administrator, Augustine and other THA officials over the past few days. The search, carried out by officers of the Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau (ACIB), is believed to be part of the probe into a controversial audio clip in which people believed to be high-ranking government officials, can be heard planning to use THA resources to fund a political propaganda campaign. The audio recording began circulating on social media on May 23.

Augustine has accused Dennis of coercing Progressive Democratic Patriot (PDP) membership and mobilisation officer Akil Abdullah into leaking the infamous audio clip as part of a plot to discredit him and the assembly.

“Let me also refute and deny every single statement made and implied by the chief secretary and the individual who was captured in that video to suggest that people were approached and paid for information. At no time did that happen.”

It is alleged that Abdullah was paid in excess of $270,000 for his co-operation in the plot, and that Dennis was the one to take Abdullah to meet Prime Minister Rowley and other high-ranking officials to further the plan.

“Let me also say that nobody was taken by me to meet with any prime minister. All of that are simply lies and fabrication.”

Augustine also implicated Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher and other police officers in the allegations which the commissioner denied in a briefing on Wednesday. The Prime Minister also denied the allegations in a media conference on Thursday.

Dennis said the police were legitimately doing their job, and he accused Augustine of undermining the integrity of the TTPS.

“Destroy the credibility of the TTPS, destroy the credibility of the judiciary so that if perhaps the situation – he might be charged – he can continue to cling on and hold on to office properly.”

Dennis said the current actions by the TTPS was brought about by the chief secretary and others discussing ways to “defraud the people of Tobago.”

“That of course is illegal, and it attracted the attention of the police.”

Augustine has also said he intends to write international agencies on the matter.

On this Dennis said, “I’m saying when you’re writing to the UN, ensure that you start off your letter in the correct way – Dear United Nations, I have been a very naughty boy and of course you can feel free to put all of your foolish accusations in the letter as well. This is Tobago’s edition of Section 34.”

Section 34 refers to legislation passed under the People's Partnership to allow petitions for cases before the courts for more than ten years to be discontinued which had implications for the accused in the Piarco airport corruption. The law passed in both Houses of Parliament was withdrawn and the Piarco matters remain before the courts.