National Transformation Alliance senior advisory committee member Ghassan Youseph feels Finance Minister Colm Imbert should be “made” to resign immediately—not just because of the recent Privy Council ruling in the Auditor General fiasco, “but due to years of sustained incompetence.”
In a media release yesterday, Youseph said, “Many are calling for Colm Imbert’s resignation in light of the recent court ruling and pronouncements by the Law Lords, which made it clear that he acted unfairly and that he himself should be investigated.”
He added, “In addition, while he claims that the money is not missing, he has failed to account to the public and the Auditor General for the whereabouts of the money. And while this may be the straw that broke the camel’s back, I contend that his removal is equally, if not more so, due to his chronic incompetence in managing the nation’s economy over the past nine years.”
He was referring to the Privy Council’s dismissal in November of an appeal filed by Imbert challenging the Appeal Court’s decision to allow Auditor General Jaiwantie Ramdass to pursue her lawsuit objecting to a probe of her approach to auditing the 2023 public accounts.
Referencing the $2.6 billion which was discovered by Finance Ministry officials too late to be added to the January 2024 deadline for submission of T&T’s 2023 account to Ramdass, Youseph claimed Imbert’s “inability to properly balance the national accounts has resulted in a $2.6 billion shortfall, for which he refuses to take responsibility.”
“Instead, he shifts blame onto public servants, ignoring the fundamental truth that the buck stops with him.”
Saying past ministers were held accountable for financial mismanagement, he added, “So too must Imbert. His continued leadership only deepens the country’s economic instability and public frustration. His removal is not just an option—it is a necessity.”
Imbert didn’t reply to messages for comment on the claims yesterday.
