PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has denied allegations that her government is behind an “orchestrated attack” on the main opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) as the police investigate the funding of the party’s multimillion-dollar headquarters.
PNM headquarters, also known as Baliser House (File Photo)“If the People’s National Movement believes that every dollar used in the construction of Balisier House came from lawful fundraising activities, public appeals, raffles, dinners, cake sales, bakery sales and voluntary donations, then the law provides them with the perfect opportunity to produce the evidence and prove it,” said Persad-Bissessar.
“That is precisely what courts exist to do. So I urge them to stop the continued beh-beh behaviour. By all means, dig up every raffle stub, every fundraising ticket and every bakery sale receipt. Produce the records. Produce the accounts. Produce the evidence. The courts will determine the facts,” she added.
But PNM chairman Marvin Gonzales in a three-page statement described as a “political witch hunt” the move by the police to compel the trustees of Balisier House to explain the funding behind the construction of the PNM headquarters.
“Let me remind the population that we in the PNM are and have always been a law-abiding organization dating back to our formation” Gonsalves said, while former prime minister Stuart Young in a post on his Facebook page wrote “if there is any wrongdoing or criminality anywhere then that needs to be addressed via the rule of law and proper due process without political interference.
“This orchestrated attack on the PNM should be of concern to all citizens as an attack on the only stable political institution that has been at the forefront of democracy and the development of Trinidad and Tobago,” he added.
But Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar told the Trinidad Express newspaper on Monday that “Trinidad and Tobago is a constitutional republic founded upon the separation of powers and the rule of law.
“The Government does not direct police investigations, does not instruct the Judiciary and does not determine who should or should not be investigated. Those decisions belong to independent institutions established under our Constitution,” she added.
Persad-Bissessar also dismissed Gonzales’ claim that the police action was politically motivated.
“This is an active matter that was brought before the courts by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS). The TTPS and judiciary are independent organisations. Therefore his comment is nonsensical,” she said.
Last Friday, High Court judge Margaret Mohammed granted an Order to the TTPS compelling the PNM to explain its funding for the construction of its headquarters.
The police had gone to the courts earlier this month with an application for a Preliminary Unexplained Wealth Order in accordance with Section 58(1) of the Civil Asset Recovery and Management and Unexplained Wealth Act, 2019.
The application names the Trustees of the PNM as the first respondent and the PNM, represented by its General Secretary, as the second respondent.
The Commissioner of Police is represented by King’s Counsel Anthony Peto KC and junior counsel Thomas Cleaver of Blackstone Chambers in London, with attorney Dayadai Harripaul serving as instructing attorney.
Homeland Security Minister Roger Alexander has defended the police investigation insisting the probe is being conducted independently and is not politically motivated.
“Allow the police to do their job. Allow the courts to make a decision. That is how we display true democracy in Trinidad and Tobago,” he said, defending the use of unexplained wealth investigations.
“Trust the process. Allow the institutions to do their job. Stop supporting reckless, careless behaviour that is damaging society.”
Young in his Facebook statement said “it is clear that the UNC government is engaging in targeted political persecution and victimization and has been doing so for sometime now”.
He said the government was engaged in a “smoke screen” noting the dismissal of thousands of workers across various state organisations
“We are in a very dangerous place in our history,” Young said, noting that “there have been withdrawals of over US$500 million from the Heritage Stablisation Fund (HSF) in the past year “and we were told nothing.
“Borrowings of over US$1.8 billion at high interest rates to be repaid in USD where we have lower FOREX earnings. Our indebtedness is at a dangerously high level with the risk that a single late payment or inability to repay any state loans will push us over the fiscal precipice.”
He said that the citizens are justifiably concerned about voicing their opinions and speaking out against the wrongs and ills being committed by the ruling United National Congress (UNC).
“Voices of differing opinions are quickly shut down by victimization, threats and intimidation.
You cannot silence the population and you certainly will not be allowed to destroy the PNM which celebrates its 70th year of existence this year,” Young wrote.
Meanwhile, the latest HDF published last Friday, showed the government withdrew US$510.78 million from the Fund for the periods July to September 2025 and October to December 2025.
The July to September report shows the Fund earned a positive return, even after Government withdrew money. It said the HSF returned 4.54 per cent for the quarter, beating its benchmark return of 3.35 per cent.
The Fund’s value moved from US$6.3229 billion at the end of June 2025 to US$6.3413 billion at September 30, 2025.
“During the quarter, US$260.78 million was withdrawn from the Fund under Section 15 of the HSF Act (2007) for the financial year 2023/2024.”
The October to December report showed another withdrawal. It said the HSF returned 2.69 per cent for that quarter, also beating its benchmark return of 1.99 per cent.
But the Fund’s value fell from US$6.3413 billion as at September 30, 2025, to US$6.2549 billion at December 31, 2025.
“In accordance with Section 15 of the HSF Act (2007), US$250 million was withdrawn from the Fund during the quarter.”
The HSF is a sovereign wealth fund established to save surplus petroleum revenues and cushion the economy against downturns in energy prices. It is divided into a stabilisation component for fiscal policy support and a savings component for future generations. It is managed by an independent board with oversight from the Ministry of Finance.
