Independent Senator Michael Annisette said last night that a report by the Commission of Enquiry that investigated the alleged wrongful removal of materials from the new Scarborough Hospital site to a private housing development in Tobago, recommended that a criminal charge be laid against NH (International) Caribbean Ltd executive chairman Emile Elias.

’I am now calling on the Attorney General, right, we talking about corruption, I am now calling on you to investigate this. I am now calling on you because it (enquiry) recommend that he should be charged with larceny,’ Annisette said.

He did so in a scathing attack against Elias and Diego Martin West MP Dr Keith Rowley, while contributing to the Senate’s debate on The Commissions of Enquiry (Validation and Immunity from Proceedings) Bill, 2009 at the Red House, Port of Spain.

The bill is meant to validate the Commission of Enquiry into the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT) and the local construction sector. Before he began his contribution, Annisette declared to the Senate that he has been a member of the State-owned enterprise’s board of directors since December 16, 2006.

He spent several minutes speaking about Elias and Rowley, who have both been strong critics of UDeCOTT, before he referred to the report of the Commission of Enquiry, which was chaired by Annestine Sealey, that examined the removal of the materials from the new Scarborough hospital to a private housing development in Landate, Tobago, owned by Rowley’s wife, Sharon.

’Emile, they concluded that he should be charged. That from the testimony of the witness as above, and the exhibits that the appropriate authority should visit section 234:21 of the Larceny Act Chap 11.12, with a view to addressing the illegal act, if so found by them ... committed by who? NHIC. By the removal of NIDPEC’s materials from the Scarborough hospital site to the Landate Development project,’ Annisette said.

Annisette also told the Upper House that Elias had contributed half a million dollars to Rowley’s campaign for the leadership of the ruling party’s 1996 internal elections, as he sought to draw a link between the two. At first, Annisette said he did not want to say how much money Elias contributed to Rowley’s 1996 campaign.

At the urging of a fellow Independent Senator, however, Annisette said, ’I could tell you the amount, you want to know? $500,000.’

Annisette alleged that NHIC, which Works and Transport Minister Colm Imbert previously stated had earned more than $1 billion in State contracts under his tenure in Government, pays no local taxes as it is incorporated in the Cayman Islands.

’So what that means? No money is coming back to Trinidad and Tobago,’ Annisette said.

He also defended his right to make his contribution in the Senate last night despite his membership on the UDeCOTT board and also said the company also had the right to legally challenge the enquiry into its operations.