Finsac lawyer denies bias
LAWYER for Finsac commission member Charles Ross this morning rebutted suggestions that there may be bias on his part because of statements he made following the collapse of the financial sector in the mid-1990.
Attorney Paul Beswick said that Ross’ statement on the then Government high interest rate policies, among others things, does not mean that he pre-judged the suspended Finsac enquiry which started hearings last September.
Beswick argued that Ross should not and cannot be disqualified as a commission member because of comments he made in a professional capacity in newspaper articles.
Beswick said also that the comments does not mean he is unfit to conduct an unbiased enquiry. He said if that was the case nobody would be left to sit on the commission because persons have expressed one view or another on the matter.
The claimants — which include former Finance Minister Omar Davies, among others — are challenging Commission chairman Boyd Carey’s decision not to withdraw from the enquiry. The claimants are also asking the Judicial Review Court to declare the commission null and void.
Carey’s chairmanship is being challenged because of an alleged debt that was taken over by Finsac after the collapse.
The claimants are contending that Carey is among the group of persons the commission is tasked with looking at how they were treated by Finsac, among other things.
Beswick had earlier asked that the spread sheet showing the alleged debt be struck from the record, as its source is not known and the loan had been serviced.