More Ottley Hall Inquiry frustrations

14.SEP.07

The Commission of Inquiry set up to enquire into the failed multi-million dollar Ottley Hall Project has once more been temporarily halted pending today’s expected High Court ruling on a stay of execution granted on the application of lawyers representing former Prime Minister Sir James Mitchell. Sir James had been summoned to testify before the Commission, being one of the two key witnesses from which the Commission expects to gather testimony.{{more}}

The other, Italian businessman Dr. Aldo Rolla, has so far remained beyond the tentacles of the Commission, claiming that he is “too busy” to testify and taking advantage of the fact that, being a non-national, the Commission has no power to force him to give evidence. For Sir James, who, despite his critical importance to the work of the Commission, has revealed no enthusiasm to testify, legal manoeuvres would appear to be his chosen path.

It has led to a sense of frustration hanging over and even within the Commission. There is even scepticism in some quarters in the wider society, leading to the inevitable question, is it all a waste of time? This is understandable for the Commission has already outlived the term of office of one government and is yet to complete its work after almost two years of its successor. It has been often mired in legal and political controversy, yet has managed to uncover vital facts, hitherto unknown publicly.

Prime Minister Gonsalves is under no illusion as to the usefulness of the Commission. Its work and unraveling of evidence, he said, has given his government much clarity in its pursuit of justice and debt forgiveness for this country. The substantial easing of this burden is one tangible benefit to which he points. For many other persons in the society though, the Commission’s value is judged in a simplistic way, as if it were a mere criminal pursuit. Has anybody been charged?

If, from the work of the Commission, criminal charges should follow, then these must not be seen as ends in themselves or even as political recrimination. Their greatest contribution would be to act as a deterrent to any such occurrences in the future and any such charges would by themselves not be enough. Strict integrity legislation providing for accountability and transparency is the least we could expect.

Even if the Commission does not lead to any such prosecution, enough has been said to justify this course of action. We must demand it.