Former chairman of the Integrity Commission, Ken Gordon said T&T and the City of Port-of-Spain owes a debt of gratitude to those in public life who have stood up against corruption. He hailed the actions of many, including two former members of the Commission, former deputy commissioner Justice Sebastian Ventour and Dr Shelly-Anne Lalchan. Ventour resigned after he disagreed with a public statement from the Integrity Commission which concluded its investigation into the Emailgate probe while Lalchan also resigned from the body on personal reasons.
Gordon was delivering the feature address Friday, at the Civic Reception and Awards Ceremony which was held at the Estate 101, Maraval. He described the action to stand up against corruption as a “most welcomed demonstration of principled conduct,” from people in public life who publicly opposed corrupt and improper behaviour “even at personal cost.”
“Too often in the past such conducts have been kept away from the media, covered up and then quietly forgotten. This type of Nelsonic vision has no place in a society that is committed to accountability. Our city and this country owe a public debt of thanks to those who have given such example.”
The other persons which he highlighted were: former solicitor General, Eleanor Donaldson-Honeywell for her statement on the Prisongate, Claire Gomez-Miller, internal auditor of the National Gas Company, David West, Director of the Police Complaints Authority “who refused to be terrorised and had the courage to say no. To Gary Griffith, former national security minister, who placed his integrity above political ambition,” he said.
Donaldson-Honeywell resigned after she raised allegations against lawyers who were involved in a corrupt scheme to benefit from bogus assault claims filed by prisoners.
West reported former attorney general Anand Ramlogan to the police after he claimed he was approached by Ramlogan to withdraw his witness statement in a civil lawsuit filed by Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley in exchange for the PCA post. Griffith, who was fired from his ministerial post, has given a statement supporting West’s allegations.
“Those of whom drew a line, and sent an unmistakeable signal to the country, what public integrity means and to Clico board, Jagdeesh Siewrattan and Denyse Mehta who took firms positions in resigning from the Clico board in accordance with high standards of integrity. We thank and congratulate these individuals for an inspiring example to doing the right thing. They are noble examples that reflect the beginning of a new path for those who aspire to public life.”
Speaking about the condition of the Queen’s Park Savannah, he described the condition of it as disgraceful. He said the savannah as one of T&T’s green spaces was not properly protected by previous administrations. Gordon said it should be a place of recreation and not kept in the condition that it is in now.
“Today the condition of the savannah has greatly deteriorated as a result of the adhoc, anything goes, approach to its maintenance by successive administrations.” Referring to the Grand Stand, he said “a parade ground has been pitched in front of what looks like six disjointed structures stuck together, which is called the Grand Stand, but really it is an eyesore.”
Gordon who spent his entire life in Port-of-Spain, said the eastern fence looks like a pack of cards. He had a list of recommendations including constructing a fence around the perimeter of the savannah so it looks attractive and protects the grounds. He also criticised the Water and Sewerage Authority and the T&T Electricity Commission for the ongoing work on the savannah grounds.