Allyson Baksh’s resignation from the Government’s Senate bench was an attempt for the Government to save face following the Petrotrin “fake oil” issue allegedly involving the company owned by Baksh’s family, United National Congress Senator Gerald Ramdeen has indicated.
“Ms Baksh’s resignation was long in coming,” Ramdeen told media prior to yesterday’s Senate session where Baksh’s replacement, Ronald Huggins, was sworn in.
“It’s a farce to cover up controversy around the Petrotrin matter. Government has tried to save face considering what’s been disclosed by Petrotrin’s audit team on the “fake oil issue” and confirmation by Canadian auditors recently.”
Ramdeen added, “What’s delayed now for an unacceptable period is action by Petrotrin’s board following the Canadian auditors’ report. This matter involves $100 million of taxpayers’ funds and on the face of it, criminal conduct seems to be involved.
“One would expect the board and Energy Minister to immediately institute proceedings for recovery of monies wrongly paid by Petrotrin and termination of continuing contracts.”
A statement from the Prime Minister’s office at 11.25 pm yesterday stated Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley had accepted Baksh’s resignation.
Baksh was among the first appointees of the new PNM government in September 2015.
Her father Nazim Baksh’s company landed in controversy in September when Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar revealed a Petrotrin audit on alleged volume discrepancies between oil production and actual production receipts. An internal audit alleged Petrotrin paid $80 million to A&V Drilling for oil which wasn’t supplied.
Canadian consultant Kroll Consulting, mandated to probe the matter, confirmed there was indeed a discrepancy but Petrotrin, which revealed the findings 10 days ago, is yet to take any action.
People’s National Movement sources said yesterday that Baksh decided to “do what was obvious and resign.”
PNM chairman Franklin Khan told T&T Guardian he couldn’t say exactly when Baksh resigned, if she’d been asked to or did so on her own, adding the PM was the one who hires and fires.
At yesterday’s session, Senate President Christine Kangaloo announced President Anthony Carmona had declared Baksh’s seat vacant following the PM’s advice.
Replacement Huggins, from the PNM’s St Joseph constituency, was the party’s former public relations officer.
Also contacted yesterday, Congress of the People leader Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan said the situation emphasised the need for campaign finance reform as soon as possible. She noted Rowley’s statements that the A&V owner was his friend.
Seepersad-Bachan added, “If no one will, COP will start the campaign finance reform rolling in our party.”