Fifteen acres of state land at Ravine Sable, Sangre Grande, which were “bequeathed” by one Ishmael Shah to Hassan Ali, of Malabar, in 2000, are associated with money laundering, terrorist financing and proceeds of crime, People’s National Movement MP Colm Imbert says. “Money laundering, terrorist financing and proceeds of crime arise since all of that is associated with this parcel of land,” Imbert said in Parliament yesterday.
He claimed that the land was fraudulently acquired with a false deed. Imbert asked if this was the same parcel of land at Ravine Sable, Vega de Oropouche, which the Energy Ministry advised the Commissioner of State lands in July to take the necessary action to protect the land in question and to evict the illegal occupier who was on it.
Imbert was speaking on amendments to a bill involving the Proceeds of Crime Act, Anti-Terrorism Bill and Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). It’s meant to strengthen the anti-money laundering thrust, combat terrorist financing and to aid the Financial Intelligence Unit which handles this, ahead of T&T’s evaluation by the global Financial Action Task Force.
Imbert expressed concern about illegal quarrying, terrorist financing and money laundering in T&T, adding, “All of this is going on in T&T. The minister (Larry Howai, who piloted the bill) is beating his chest about the innovative things he’s doing about money laundering and terrorist financing when terrorists in T&T are financing themselves.”
Imbert noted the Ravine Sable land was the subject of correspondence in May 2014 between the Energy Ministry and Commissioner of State Lands (CSL). He said the land was surveyed in 1905 for one Gopeechurn Nulliah. The Land Management Agency requested a title search to verify it was privately owned, he added.
Further correspondence between the two agencies in June 2014, however, noted the land was forfeited in 1933 to the state and was state owned. Imbert then noted the July 2014 instructions from the Energy Ministry to the CSL advising protection of the land and eviction of the illegal occupier.
Imbert also said a March 18 memo was sent from the Director of Minerals to the Quarry Director on illegal mining at Vega de Oropouche. He said a probe was done by an Energy Ministry team on March 17 to investigate reported illegal mining.
Imbert added that the team visited the area, met a particular individual on the property and asked him to explain what was happening. He said no receipts were presented by the person to validate his purchases of pit-run gravel and he was unable to locate the receipts. The person was to submit them to the Energy officials in a week. The officials noted, however, that the individual was very evasive, Imbert said.
Imbert said it was recommended that checks be done by the Legal Affairs Ministry to verify the validity of the title of the documents produced.
He said: “Well, I have the title document. It says, in 2000, under the Real Property Ordinance, and ‘Memorandum of a Gift,’ (it states) ‘I Ishmael Shah, of Roystonia, Couva, do hereby relinquish and bequeath this parcel of land (the same 15-acre parcel) in consideration of the natural love and affection which I have and bear towards Hassan Ali (you know that name?) of 328 Melodians Crescent, Phase 2, Malabar. I hereby transfer to the said Hassan Ali, all my share interest and rights.’”
High-powered arsenal
Imbert added, “A criminal is transferring state lands to another criminal which the National Security Ministry has said is involved in most of the murders in Maloney and La Horquetta and the man’s name keeps coming up. “The Minister of National Security knows the gentleman from Carapo has fabricated a false deed and acquired state land in his name and is illegally mining material and selling it to the Point Fortin Highway.
“Right under your nose, terrorist organisation illegally mining on land in North East Trinidad which they acquired fraudulently with a false deed. Yes the same Life Sport people, the same people from Carapo.”
Noting the Life Sport audit report, Imbert said, “These are people suspected of killing one of T&T’s prominent people and many others. I’m told the National Security Minister is aware those characters in Carapo have sophisticated high-powered weapons that are not in the police possession. They have more high-powered weapons than the protective services.
"That criminal element, the Minister say, kills people at will, is mining illegally in North East Trinidad and I hope the Minister (Finance) will work with the National Security Minister to root out this evil from T&T. “If they kill people and have high-powered weapons, is only by the grace of God I’m still around because apparently they kill people at will.”
Howai responds
Finance Minister Larry Howai, who replied to all of Imbert’s concerns (including on the bill and otherwise), said Government continued to take action on illegal quarrying. He said 31 people are currently before the courts on charges in connection with this and a number of names are known to members of Parliament. He said he had the list of names and appropriate steps were being taken on the issue.
Howai cited reports about illegal quarrying which the PNM government had tried to deal with over the years since 2004. He said the situation was a challenge “for us all.” But Government was putting changes in place that would advance the pace of convictions on the matter.
Howai noted the press release from Point Fortin highway contractors OAS Construtura distancing itself from the questionable aggregate issue. He also said the Life Sport report was referred to the police, Integrity Commission, DPP and Attorney General’s Office and he’s currently checking to see if it went to the FIU.
After Imbert spoke, National Security Minister Gary Griffith told T&T Guardian the security sector was fully aware and monitoring persons of interest “through working with our international allies, the Regional Impacs Agency and local intelligence branches.”
PP knows of situation
PNM MP Imbert said the Government was fully aware of what was happening. “A criminal is transferring state lands to another criminal which the National Security Ministry has said is involved in most of the murders in Maloney and La Horquetta and the man’s name keeps coming up. “The Minister of National Security knows the gentleman from Carapo has fabricated a false deed and acquired state land in his name and is illegally mining material and selling it to the Point Fortin Highway.
“Right under your nose, terrorist organisation illegally mining on land in North East Trinidad which they acquired fraudulently with a false deed. Yes the same Life Sport people, the same people from Carapo.”
Noting the Life Sport audit report, Imbert said, “These are people suspected of killing one of T&T’s prominent people and many others. I’m told the National Security Minister is aware those characters in Carapo have sophisticated high-powered weapons that are not in the police possession. They have more high-powered weapons than the protective services.
"That criminal element, the Minister say, kills people at will, is mining illegally in North East Trinidad and I hope the Minister (Finance) will work with the National Security Minister to root out this evil from T&T. “If they kill people and have high-powered weapons, is only by the grace of God I’m still around because apparently they kill people at will.”
Howai: Some before courts
Finance Minister Larry Howai, who replied to all of Imbert’s concerns (including on the bill and otherwise), said Government continued to take action on illegal quarrying. He said 31 people are currently before the courts on charges in connection with this and a number of names are known to members of Parliament. He said he had the list of names and appropriate steps were being taken on the issue.
Howai cited reports about illegal quarrying which the PNM government had tried to deal with over the years since 2004. He said the situation was a challenge “for us all.” But Government was putting changes in place that would advance the pace of convictions on the matter.
Howai noted the press release from Point Fortin highway contractors OAS Construtora distancing itself from the questionable aggregate issue. He also said the Life Sport report was referred to the police, Integrity Commission, DPP and Attorney General’s Office and he’s currently checking to see if it went to the FIU.
After Imbert spoke, National Security Minister Gary Griffith told T&T Guardian the security sector was fully aware and monitoring persons of interest “through working with our international allies, the Regional Impacs Agency and local intelligence branches.”
