Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Sport Ashwin Creed is expected to answer questions from the Ministry of Finance and the Economy’s Central Audit Unit this week, possibly today.
This was confirmed yesterday by his attorney, former legal affairs minister Peter Taylor. In an interview with the T&T Guardian, Taylor said he could not say the exact day the meeting would take place, but “it will be very soon.” Creed had been out of the country on leave since May, weeks before Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar ordered Finance and the Economy Minister Larry Howai to probe the Life Sport programme, which involved training less fortunate black, young males.
There have been several allegations that the programme was used to fund criminals and one businessman said he was owed $34 million for his role in the initiative. There have been reports of death threats being issued to officials of the programme, including Life Sport executive Ruth Marchan, who has since gone into hiding at a safe house provided by Chaguanas West MP, former national security minister Jack Warner. She took confidential information in her computer to Warner for safekeeping. A close associate, Curtis “Tallman” Gibson, was killed after being threatened. No one has yet been charged with his murder. Taylor said Creed returned to the country last week after an official request. He was told a few days ago his return was necessary to assist with some questions.
Taylor stressed that was the first official request for Creed to return from the United States where he was dealing with family business. He said after the request Creed “cut short his business abroad to return home to deal with the matter.” He said he wanted to make it clear that Creed was not running from anything and had not done anything wrong.