LOCAL Government Minister Surujrattan Rambachan once rated former president of the Hindu Credit Union (HCU) Harry Harnarine as being "among the top 20 per cent of leaders in Trinidad and Tobago".

This was revealed yesterday as Harnarine took the witness stand at the Commission of Enquiry into the collapse of CL Financial and the HCU at the Winsure Building, Richmond Street in Port of Spain.

Attorney Farid Scoon yesterday read Rambachan's recommendation as he outlined Harnarine's educational background.

Harnarine is a recipient of a membership award in financial management from City and Guilds Association of the United Kingdom, Scoon said.

Harnarine said the City and Guilds' membership award was "a work-based programme that is done through academic studies and as well as an assessment in your job" along with an examination in Jamaica and a thesis.

A recommendation is also required before you can be approved to do the thesis, Harnarine said.

Rambachan was one of the persons who penned a recommendation for Harnarine.

Rambachan, who held the post of Chaguanas Mayor at the time, was also a management consultant with the HCU for over six years.

In his recommendation letter Rambachan said he "worked closely with Mr Harnarine during the period of transformation with the HCU".

"Mr Harnarine has always demonstrated the competency associated with entrepreneurial leadership, and as well as keen insight into the working of complex organisations," Rambachan's recommendation letter stated.

Rambachan's recommendation was dated 2006, two years before the HCU collapsed. –Joel Julien