By Sue-Ann Wayow
CHIEF Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Farley Augustine is denying allegations that alleged whistleblower Akil Abdullah was forced to make a confession to him concerning a police investigation involving THA members.
The Office of the Chief Secretary issued a media release on Wednesday to address claims made by Abdullah that he was forced to confess to bribery and conspiracy and that he was threatened and abused.
There were too many inconsistencies in Abdullah’s statements since July 19 when Augustine called a special plenary sitting of the Assembly to reveal what was allegedly revealed by Abdullah and his recruitment by the People’s National Movement (PNM) to destabalise Augustine and his executive team, the release stated.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley also denied any such allegations.
The release on Wednesday comes after an alleged voice recording shared on social media with a voice purporting to be that of Abdullah.
The THA Chief Secretary release stated, “There is irrefutable evidence of the several attempts made by Mr Abdullah to have a meeting with the Chief Secretary. These requests came via WhatsApp messages, text messages and calls to the Office of the Chief Secretary, making the requests weeks before a meeting was eventually granted.”
The release stated that requests for meetings started since April 2023 and the Chief Secretary only agreed to a meeting in July 2023 which lasted 30 minutes.
“The Chief Secretary is also in possession of records of the request that came for a follow-up meeting which eventually took place on July 12, 2023.The Chief Secretary confidently attests that there is more than sufficient evidence to refute any claim that Mr Abdullah was forced to meet with him,” it continued.
The Chief Secretary also questioned the role of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) in the matter.
“How is it that the TTPS predicate their case on this witness?” was the question asked.
“The Chief Secretary is deeply concerned that, to date, no independent inquiry into Abdullah’s claims have been made and that there may be several individuals seeking to tamper with a potential state witness,” the release stated.
And according to the release, Augustine has refused all attempts by Abdullah and his agents to have meetings or phone conversations.
Additionally, he has also instructed his staff not to respond to any of Abdullah’s electronic messages or his phone calls.
