Former Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal has requested a copy of the judgement made by High Court Judge James Aboud in the matter involving the Estate Management and Business Development Company Ltd (EMBD) and a group of contractors.
Moonilal made the statement yesterday as he noted that he was not a party to the matter, in which the contractors were seeking to get the lawsuit against them over contracts awarded in the run-up to the 2015 General Election dismissed at the preliminary stage
Noting what he said were, misleading and mischievous statements by people associated with the PNM on social media regarding the judgment, Moonilal said, “I wish to clarify that I had no application that was for decision before the court.
“These applications were brought by aggrieved contractors who were advised and represented by British Queens Counsel and will no doubt determine whether they wish to appeal the decision dismissing their applications. I am yet to file my defence in this matter because the court had itself ordered that I was not to do so until it had heard and determined these very applications.”
Moonilal said his legal team intended to look at the ruling to see whether they needed to act on it.
“My legal team has requested a copy of the judgment and the transcript of the Judge’s oral delivery of his judgment. I have received preliminary advice and intend to forward same to my lawyers in London to determine whether I will join in any appeal which may include the issue of bias,” he said.
“I look forward to having my say and day in court. I have nothing to fear and I am confident that these spurious and baseless political allegations will not prevail and that I will be vindicated. Indeed, Minister Stuart Young has confessed recently, in relation to his record 57 cabinet recusals, that he is personally involved in these political civil initiatives.”
Moonilal said the malicious comments by PNM social media trolls suggesting he will now have to face criminal charges and prosecution had also caught his attention, noting they were “ridiculous and demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of the legal system” because the case was a civil matter.
“In their rush to score cheap political points, they may also find themselves in court over the defamatory remarks and character assassination,” he said of the social media commentators.