Cote ci Cote la T&T Dictionary (Signature Edition) defines "See-er man" as a "witch doctor. One who is supposed to see the future by reading cards, palms, bones."It also states that a "Obeah man/woman" can "wok obeah" to attempt to influence others through the use of obeah. I thought that these expressions and associated folklore were things of the past.
Gone are the days when people would attend the see-er man and be told that it was the neighbour who threw a headless chicken in their front yard. Gone are the days when people would attend the obeah man to work some kind of black magic.
Well, it seems that in T&T we have some journalists who are able to mysteriously read phone records of high-ranking politicians and surmise exactly what were the nature and purport of the words spoken during their telephone calls. Further, some journalists are now "wok-ing" obeah on the masses as they attempt to cripple members of the PP Government.
A front page headline last Sunday was labelled "AG Ducks" and was followed by two full pages of rehashing old trash surrounding Section 34. The article depicts a tale of collusion and bribery whereby the AG requested the recently appointed chairman of the Police Complaints Authority, David West, to withdraw his witness statement.
This was given in litigation proceedings touching and concerning Section 34 in exchange for his appointment as chairman of the PCA. Heavy weather was made of alleged phone calls by the AG to Mr West in or about October 2014. Since the publication, West has simply stated that he filed a witness statement in court proceedings and preferred to not comment further.
At the outset, it is important to note that it is the President of the country who appoints the chairman of the PCA. We must not lose sight of this most relevant fact. How is it humanly possible for the AG to induce someone with a post over which he has absolutely no authority? To think that the AG can do this presupposes that the President is conspiring with the AG and also that Mr West is doltish (Trinis prefer to say "dotish.")
The AG has categorically refuted these allegations and has provided a wealth of cold, hard facts which show the falsehood and obeah journalism that is involved. West's witness statement was filed in court on December 19, 2014, and served on the AG's attorneys on December 22, 2014. How could the AG ask West to withdraw a witness statement of which he had absolutely no knowledge?
It is clear from West's witness statement that he said nothing whatsoever regarding any untoward moves by the AG. Assuming for a moment that there is some weight which we can attach to these unfounded allegations, why did West not report the AG to the police or the Integrity Commission?
The journalist revealed that West had sought legal advice in relation to the AG's gesture. Mr Keith Rowley has since stated that he had made an application to the court in June 2014 seeking an extension of time to file the said witness statement of West. According to Rowley, this means that the AG definitely knew of West's witness statement.
Even if we accept Rowley's claim, this is splitting hairs and begs the logical question, why would the AG ask West to withdraw his witness statement if he (AG) did not know the contents of same. West is a witness for Rowley in the court proceedings and he (West) has not said anything about the AG offering him a bribe. Is Rowley impugning the credibility of his own witness?
It is only a see-er man who could have forecasted in October 2014 that West was going to file a witness statement some two months later or, according to Rowley, have known of the contents of the witness statement before it was filed and served.
It is only the PNM, ably assisted by certain media factions, which try to influence the population that the ridiculous assertions made in the newspaper article are true. They tried this on the AG before when it was claimed that he had promised DPP Roger Gaspard a judgeship in the High Court.
In my last article I wrote, inter alia, about Rowley and Al-Rawi's consistency in failing to obey court deadlines. Rowley has admitted yet again that he had to seek another extension of time to file West's witness statement. Rowley and Al-Rawi can't or won't manage their own court deadlines. Can they seriously be trusted with affairs of the State?
Al-Rawi continues to have concerns that a Judicial Support Officer e-mailed the AG's attorneys but not himself. The Judiciary has however stated that it has found no evidence that proves a conspiracy to pervert justice.