After more than two years of investigations, police are unable to charge former executive chairman of the Urban Development Corporation (Udecott), Calder Hart, because they do not have enough credible evidence. Deputy political leader of the Congress of the People (COP), Dr Anirudh Mahabir, said that was the message from Commissioner of Police Dwayne Gibbs during an hour-long meeting at the Police Administration Building, Sackville Street, Port-of Spain. Mahabir and COP party chairman,Joseph Toney met with Gibbs at his office yesterday to discuss the recent police raids at CCN TV6, Newsday and the Transport and Industrial Workers Union (TIWU).
The police said the raids were intended to get critical evidence to assist in their investigations. The raids have been severely criticised by the media and other interest groups. Mahabir told reporters Gibbs assured COP the Hart investigation was not "on the back burner" and was still being pursued. Hart is being investigated for alleged perjury. Mahabir said the matter was raised with Gibbs because the public felt it was taking too long. He said he was happy with the assurance Gibbs had given.
He said Gibbs said he wanted credible evidence against Hart before any charges could be laid. Toney said the meeting was "open, frank and productive." He said the COP told Gibbs the police needed to be more sensitive in carrying out raids. He said Gibbs said the lawmen had to execute their work in the way they did because of the matters being investigated. Toney, a former national security minister, said the exercises negatively affected the image of the service. He said Gibbs appreciated COP's intervention and hoped to meet with the party's leadership from time to time.