OROPOUCHE MP Dr Roodal Moonilal says he has never avoided filing a defence in the civil case involving the Estate Management and Business Development Company (EMBDC).
He commented in a release on Wednesday after the Ministry of Attorney General and EMBDC issued ‘identical’releases on the Privy Council refusing to give permission for a number of contractors to file an appeal in the matter.
The Privy Council denied TN Ramnauth and Company Ltd, its principal Taradauth Ramnauth, Kall Co Ltd, Mootilal Ramhit and Sons Contracting Ltd, and Fides Ltd permission to appeal a Court of Appeal decision.
This decision dismissed their applications to strike out the EMBDC case or compel EMBDC to provide further particulars. The Privy Council’s order, dated October 8, 2024, stated that the appeal did not present an arguable point of law or public importance.
Dr Moonilal said, “Both releases announced the ruling by the Privy Council of said date that refused to grant permission to named companies to appeal an earlier decision of the Court of Appeal. But curiously while I was not a party to those proceedings, both the Office of the Attorney General and the EMBDC, a state company, introduce my name and both state “The Appellants and Dr Moonilal who have avoided filing their respective defences for approximately 7 years…”
He added, “I take this opportunity to state categorically that I have never ‘avoided’ filing a defence in this matter.
“That is further political mischief by two political organisations. My defence has been prepared years ago.
“Given that named companies took action to strike out the claim, it was deemed prudent to await the outcome of those matters which could have impacted the claim by the EMBDC.
“In fact remarkably the lawyers for the EMBDC agreed that filing defences would be best after the final ruling on those matters.”
He said the case was a civil claim brought by the Attorney General, a political functionary.
Dr Moonilal added, “The same AG’s office that discontinued the Malcolm Jones matter upon advice from the disgraced convicted criminal QC, is the same AG’s office pursuing this matter.
“It’s a blatant abuse of the power of the State. This is NOT a criminal matter !! This is a case of the PNM v Roodal Moonilal!
“To this day I have never been even questioned or interviewed by the police on any matter related to the EMBDC. In fact the police is embarrassed by the political manipulation and misleading posturing on this matter.
“This EMBDC matter has been the special focus of Keith Rowley and other leading Ministers of his Cabinet for several years on the political platform and within the Parliament. This is Rowley’s last desperate act of political persecution.
“I have noted the ruling on the application and as before, remain anxious to defend myself in this matter at the appropriate time.”
