In an unexpected move yesterday, attorneys representing liquidator RD Rampersad and Co Ltd went before a High Court judge seeking "U Radio" station. Harnarine, president of Hindu Credit Union (HCU), and his lawyers were taken by surprise at the application. They were just about to make an application for summary judgment before Justice Carol Gobin when they were thwarted. Attorneys Dharmendra Punwasie and Rishi Dass entered the courtroom and asked the court's leave to challenge the Harnarine and HCU Communication's intended control of the radio station.
Punwasie and Dass appeared for Ramdath Dave Rampersad and his accounting firm, which were appointed on July 23, 2008 to take over and manage the affairs of the HCU to the extent necessary to maintain the value of its assets. Gobin allowed the request and ordered that the attorneys file submissions supporting their application. Harnarine and HCU had gone before the judge for summary judgment for control of the station, just two weeks after the court of appeal ruled in their favour. They had filed a lawsuit at the Port-of-Spain High Court against Anand and Ingrid Rampersadsingh and Upward Trend Entertainment, seeking to enforce an agreement for the purchase of 75 per cent of Upward.
HCU Communications and Harnarine sought the enforcement of a $5 million deal in which they purchased 75 per cent of Upward which would give them control of the radio station. Back then, the radio station was registered as "Radio Shakti". HCU Communications and Harnarine claimed following the appointment of a liquidator to the HCU, Upward removed the station from the HCU's Chaguanas office and changed its name. A court order enforcing the agreement would have seen control of the radio station in the hands of HCU Communications because of its controlling interest, until the block by the liquidator. Farid Scoon and Dr Wesley Debideen appeared for HCU Communications and Harnarine.
The matter was adjourned to March 31.