The High Court of Trinidad and Tobago has granted a Preliminary Unexplained Wealth Order against the opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) and its trustees as police investigate the financing of the party’s multi-million-dollar headquarters, known as Balisier House.
The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) announced on Saturday that the order was granted under Section 58(1) of the Civil Asset Recovery and Management and Unexplained Wealth Act, 2019, following an application by investigators.
Police noted that the order is an interim measure and does not amount to a finding of liability or wrongdoing.
“A Preliminary Unexplained Wealth Order is an interim measure granted by the Court and does not represent a final determination of liability or wrongdoing,” the TTPS said in a statement.
The police added that they remain committed to investigating allegations of corruption, white-collar crime and financial offences “without fear or favour.”
According to the Trinidad Express, Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro appointed Assistant Commissioner of Police Ramdath Phillip to lead the investigation and authorised him to apply to the High Court for the order.
The newspaper reported that the matter was brought as an ex parte application, with Phillip acting as the applicant on behalf of the Commissioner of Police.
According to court documents cited by the Express, investigators identified property during an investigation into what was described only as a “specified offence.”
The application alleges there are reasonable grounds to suspect that:
- the respondents’ total wealth exceeds the value of their lawfully obtained wealth;
- their total wealth exceeds TT$500,000;
- the property is owned by, or under the effective control of, the respondents; and
- the property was obtained through the commission of a specified offence.
Police also asked the court to compel the PNM and its trustees to file declarations and answer questions relating to their assets and wealth.
The Express reported that the application was supported by a 21-page affidavit from Phillip alleging that the redevelopment of the Balisier House complex may have been financed, in part, through corrupt arrangements involving government contractors who allegedly received favourable treatment in the award of state contracts during the PNM’s decade in office.
Questions have long been raised publicly about how the party financed the redevelopment of its headquarters at 1 Tranquillity Street, Port of Spain, as the party’s former leadership alleged it had debts exceeding TT$4 million in September 2018.
Over the years, the PNM has conducted several fundraising campaigns, including raffles in which nine Honda City CNG vehicles and a BMW were offered as prizes.
PNM denies wrongdoing
In a lengthy statement, PNM’s Chairman Marvin Gonzales said it had not received any official correspondence or been served with a High Court order concerning the reported proceedings.
The party rejected what it described as suggestions that there was anything improper, unlawful or secretive about the financing of Balisier House or its fundraising activities.
“The redevelopment of Balisier House was never undertaken in secret and was never financed in secret,” he said.
Gonzales said the property has been owned by the party for more than 65 years and argued that the redevelopment was funded through lawful fundraising activities, public appeals and voluntary donations from supporters over more than 15 years.
The opposition accused the governing United National Congress (UNC) of orchestrating a politically motivated campaign against it, describing the investigation as a “politically motivated witch hunt” and alleging that state institutions were being weaponised against political opponents.
The party also argued that it had previously championed campaign finance reform, while accusing the UNC of opposing those measures.
He said it has assembled a legal team to examine the proceedings and intends to pursue “every legal remedy available” to defend the party and its members.
“We remain confident that truth will prevail over propaganda, justice will prevail over political persecution and democracy will prevail over tyranny,” Gonzales said.
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