National Security Minister Carl Alfonso, who was executive director of the Prime Minister’s official residence and Diplomatic Centre in 2013, says he cannot recall any incident with a Kristyan Gokool, such as described in tapes played on Tuesday by Independent Liberal Party (ILP) leader Jack Warner.
Warner had held a news conference where he played tapes, focusing on the Gokool matter, which he claimed were done by SRP Jit Hardeen, the former driver of former minister Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh. The person on the tape spoke of wide-ranging allegations of corruption against the PP and also claimed he had taken Gokool to the official PM’s residence late at night on one occasion.
Warner also alleged that Gokool, who lives next door to the PM in Phillipine, San Fernando, and the PM were “more than neighbourly.” But contacted right after the Warner briefing, Hardeen denied it was him on the tapes and said they were a total fabrication. The PM also dismissed Warner’s claims, while Gokool refused comment, saying only that the matter had been placed in his lawyers’ hands.
Yesterday, however, Alfonso said he had no recollection of any such incident. “I don’t have a clue what Mr Warner or his tapes were referring to. The first time I heard the name Kristyan Gokool was when I saw it on the news... but I couldn’t say if he ever visited the official residence or Diplomatic Centre,” Alfonso told the T&T Guardian in a telephone interview.
Asked about Warner’s allegation that the PM’s sister changed the sentries’ diary at the centre, Alfonso said he had not heard of any such incident. “It (Warner’s claim) sounds like madness to me but I usually take what Mr Warner says with a pinch of salt ..,” he said. “I don’t want to get involved with him. I had some personal experience with him years ago when the UNC was in Opposition... when he said some things that weren’t true so that’s how I remember his behaviour and it hasn’t changed... yesterday is yesterday, etc.”
Other officials of the Diplomatic Centre were unavailable for comment yesterday. The official now in charge was said to be on vacation overseas but didn’t reply to cell calls. Warner also made allegations about a meeting which Gokool’s father had with him when he was works minister. Gokool, senior, yesterday said he had sent the matter to his attorney and a statement would be made.
However, Warner yesterday stood by the veracity of his tapes, saying for instance that Gokool would not have known the details of the information on the tapes. He cited examples with some of the allegations made concerning relatives of certain ministers.
On the PM’s claims that he had tried to “blackmail” her, Warner added: “How can you blackmail someone with a lie? If I was blackmailing her why would I take the issue (tapes) to the Integrity Commission (in 2013)? And if she felt she was being blackmailed why didn’t she go to the police, I ask you?”
Warner also released a letter from Integrity Commission chairman Martin Farrell, dated August 7, 2013, in which the commission called Warner in to speak about allegations he made on a platform that a minister had “corruptly acquired houses since assuming office.” The letter stated that the commission was investigating the claims under its governing legislation and that the investigator in the matter was one Andrew John. The letter stated that a meeting time with Warner was designated for August 26, 2013.
Warner, who had replied, via letter of August 21, told the commission he would be bringing “copies of two audio CDs of approximately 45 minutes duration which may assist in the interview.” When contacted yesterday, Integrity Commission officials said John was in a meeting. Farrell also didn’t answer cells calls yesterday.
Yesterday, Warner said he had gone to the commission on a different matter a few weeks ago and in passing, enquired about the 2013 probe matter. He said an investigator told him the commission would have to match Hardeen’s voice with that on the tape Warner had presented for expert analysis.
Relative answers Jit’s cell
At Tuesday’s press conference, Warner gave out what he said was Hardeen’s cell number, which a person, who identified himself as Hardeen, answered when called right after the briefing. That person said it was not him on Warner’s tapes and he would be responding on it very soon. Yesterday, however, calls to the same number were answered by a man who said he was Hardeen’s brother and not Jit Hardeen. That person declined comment.