Businessman Ishwar Galbaransingh says he expects Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard, SC, to discontinue the three remaining corruption cases related to the Piarco International Airport.
Galbaransingh made the prediction in a telephone interview yesterday, hours after Gaspard discontinued the charges against him, former prime minister Basdeo Panday, his wife Oma, and former government minister Carlos John in the Piarco 3 case.
Galbaransingh, who is facing charges in two out of the three remaining Piarco cases, suggested that the outcome should be the same based on similarities in the cases and their shared procedural history.
Galbaransingh said: “Definitely, that is what we expect. There was never any evidence of any wrongdoing in the airport project. This was all contrived and set up by John Jeremie.”
“This has been political persecution for the last 18 years, all perpetuated by John Jeremie, the former attorney general, who set up the Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau (ACIB) in his office,” he added, as he repeatedly referred to findings made by the Privy Council in a successful legal challenge over the handling of the Piarco 1 case.
Galbaransingh said the cases took a toll on him and his family, noting they (the cases) “destroyed” their lives.
In a text message response, John said he was also pleased by the outcome.
“I’m certainly relieved. The system also requires a review, if not an overhaul,” John said.
Guardian Media attempted to contact the Pandays through their daughter Mickela. While she said her parents would be issuing a statement, none was received up to late yesterday.
