Trinidad: Row continues over allegations of human trafficking

CMC – Opposition member of parliament in Trinidad and Tobago, Roodal Moonilal, has denied any knowledge of an investigation into the involvement of a member of the previous People’s Partnership administration in human trafficking.

However, former legislator in the People’s Partnership government, Dr. Devant Maharaj, has contended that Moonilal was the person assigned to lead that probe.

Following Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley revealing in Parliament last Friday that the 2022 United States Report on Human Trafficking pointed fingers at current Members of Parliament but not those sitting on the side of the government, Maharaj said he assisted in the international investigations conducted between 2010-2015 within the United National Congress (UNC) – one of the parties in the then coalition government – following allegations of human trafficking.

Maharaj said the allegations were confirmed to be true and correct.

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar dismissed the claim, and speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Moonilal did the same.

“I am not aware of any investigation. It certainly was not any investigation of any Cabinet or any Cabinet business. I am not sure if former minister Maharaj may have conducted his own inquiry into any matter. If he did, then surely the ministry would have a report and that report could be found and if there’s any claim of wrongdoing or criminal conduct, then such a report ought to go to the police,” he said.

“To my knowledge, when we look, there was some inquiry in 2011, 2012, I believe. I cannot accuse Mr Maharaj of suppressing information or knowledge of criminal wrongdoing and waiting until Dr Rowley made such an abominable allegation in Parliament Friday last to come out and confirm that. But certainly, if it was any criminal wrongdoing, it ought to have been passed on to the police.”

However, Maharaj, who now resides in Canada, doubled down on his claim, saying that not only was Moonilal aware of the probe but had been tasked by then Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar to lead it.

“It was the very same Dr. Roodal Moonilal who was charged to investigate the individual in question for one of the two probes,” he said.

“Can Dr Moonilal indicate if it is true or not if he was commissioned at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima, by the political directorate to perform the investigation? This was not a Cabinet or ministry-commissioned investigation, but rather a directive by the political leadership of the UNC to investigate what was being rumoured as criminal activity by a UNC appointee.

“To suggest otherwise, by asking for a report etcetera, is playing smart with foolishness while protecting the vilest of criminal activities with human trafficking. I am disappointed in and expected more of Dr Moonilal,” Maharaj said.

In his previous statement, Maharaj said particular individuals who now hold high office in the party have supplied Venezuelan and Columbian prostitutes to person within and without the party.

“I myself was approached on several occasions to utilize this service all of which I refused,” he said, adding that no action was taken against those who were found to be involved in the criminal activity “as they were all close to the political leadership”.

“The leadership then, as it is now, placed a premium on blind loyalty over everything else. Consequently, persons who were identified were not only actively protected but subsequently promoted to the highest levels within the party and never penalized or punished,” said Maharaj.

Meanwhile, Moonilal has called on Police Commissioner Erla Harewood-Christopher to say whether lawmen were engaged in any investigation ”that involves members of Parliament whether Government or Opposition dealing with human trafficking”.

“And I put it to you, there is none, absolutely none,” he asserted.

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