?The ghost of former People's National Movement (PNM) Industry Minister John "cockfighting" "Johnny" O'Halloran has come back to haunt the party almost 25 years after he has died. Just when the population thought the PNM got their house in order after what could be described as one of the biggest "money" scandals in the 70s to rock the party under Dr Eric Williams–financial impropriety involving O'Halloran, now deceased–the party has found itself in the centre of controversy surrounding another "John," this time John Calder Hart. Though not carrying a ministerial portfolio, the former executive chairman of the Urban Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago (Udecott), Hart was said to be wielding more power than a Cabinet minister in the Patrick Manning-led government. Ironically, both men shared the same first name and were both closely affiliated with the PNM administration before grabbing the attention of the public and all media headlines following allegations of corruption. Additionally, both men were also immortalised in song by two calypsonians.
In his popular Panama rendition, David Rudder sang O'Halloran's tune:
"I, I, I, I going to Panama. I got to go Panama mama. What it is they got over there making Trinis just don't care. Some say that gone with a thousand, some say that it's tens of thousands, I hear they mention one million, I hear they mention one billion." The popular Dr Hollis "Chalkdust" Liverpool won his eighth Calypso Monarch title with his My Hart And I, as he wade into Hart's indiscretions and the authorities staunch support for him.
"Don't touch my heart baby, Don't touch my heart." However, separating them is the bribery charges that was levelled against O'Halloran in 1983, a mere two years before he fled to Canada and died. High priest of bobol
O'Halloran was the owner of extensive citrus estates and manager of the Trinidad Lime Factory. It was under the National Alliance for Reconstruction that a quantity of money was recovered and a large building was seized in Canada following his death.
Hart, to date, has had no criminal charges brought against him, but has appeared before a Commission of Enquiry set up to investigate the operations into Udecott and the construction sector. Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard has since instructed Acting Commissioner of Police James Philbert to start investigations into allegations against Hart. Contrary to Hart's testimony under oath, documents obtained by the Congress of the People alleged he had family links to Sunway Construction, which was hired to construct the Ministry of Legal Affairs Tower in Port-of-Spain. Even politicians referring to Udecott cannot seem to utter their contributions without mentioning O'Halloran's name. It was during the debate on the Validation and Immunity from Proceedings Bill 2009, St Augustine MP Vasant Baharath referred to O'Halloran as the "the high priest of bobol in the PNM." O'Halloran's ghost seems to be stalking the land with the recent allegations of corruption surrounding Udecott and Hart.
'He never hesitated to help anybody'
Sunday Guardian visited the home town of O'Halloran on Flamboyant Avenue West, Diego Martin last week and spoke to some of his close friends. While many smiled when his name was mentioned and requested anonymity, others spoke of man who was open handed with money. The house he used to live in is now renovated and owned by retired nurse, Bernadette Horne. Referring to O'Halloran as "a good chap," Elder Francis Gonzales said, "Despite of everything that was said about him he was a good man. He loved his cockfighting and never hesitate to help anybody. Why he went Canada and built buildings similar to One Woodbrook Place, I do not know. Why he got caught up, I really cannot say..." Another resident, who requested anonymity,? said, "All I know he went Panama with our money; I do not know the amount, but he went Panama."
Another neighbour, who also requested his name not be used, said O'Halloran always assisted people. "I do not know much of his secret life. All I know, before noon every day people used to line up at the front of his house looking for help from Johnny and he never use to turn away anyone. "Johnny was a nice man and he use to help everybody who was deserving of help," the neigbour added. Residents in the Heights of Aripo, where O'Halloran owned his farm, also echoed similar sentiments. His longtime cockfighting friend, Sebastien Thompson said he was not surprised by the similarity between both men. "Trinidad is a stockpile for bobol. Johnny was a good man but he had a second life I did not know about. To me, he was a very good chap. Loved cockfighting and loved to hunt. "If I was to compare him to the present situation, what he fled with was a drop in the ice bucket. He dead and gone but this type of corruption has to stop. Government coming and government going and nobody doing anything to stop the corruption."
Gas station racket
Another major corruption scandal under the PNM was the infamous "Gas Station racket," which involved civil servant Jean Miles. Miles, who worked in the civil servant in the 1960s, implicated the Ministry of Petroleum, Mines, Industry and Commerce in wrongdoing in regard to the allocation of gasoline stations to businessmen who were leasing them from the Government. She caused a sensation by alleging corrupt practices by several high-ranking figures. And then another shake up for the PNM came when former PNM party chairman and Finance Minister Francis Prevatt was named as the person who directed Robert Baird, the MC Donnell-Douglas Corporation Official responsible for the sale of three DC-9 aircraft to now defunct British West Indies International Airways, to meet with O'Halloran who later requested 'a commission' of US$250,000 from an aircraft company. Several years later, PNM councillor Dhansam Dhansook raised allegations of bribery allegations against former Works and Transport Minister Franklin Khan who is before the court charged with six counts of corruption. Energy Minister Eric Williams, who was also charged with bribery, was later freed.
Piarco scandal under UNC
The United National Congress also saw themselves being voted out of office by the population with the Piarco Airport scandal, involving millions, hanging over their heads. This scandal saw former Prime minister Basdeo Panday, his wife Oma, ministers and businessmen being charged with alleged corruption. They are all still before the court.
Corruption charges
?Brian Kuei Tung
1. Former Government Minister Brian Kuei Tung is before the Port-of-Spain Magistrates' Court charged with 16 counts of corruption totalling to $1.6 billion.
2. The charged allegedly stemmed from the second phase of police investigations into the Piarco Airport development project.
3. He is jointly charged with his girlfriend and businesswoman Renee Pierre, former Airports Authority chairmen Tyrone Gopee and Ameer Edoo and former Nipdec chairman Edward Bayley.
Ishwar Galbaransingh
1. Fraudulently received US$318,000.
2. Fraudulently received US$2.1 million.
3. Galbaransingh is also jointly charged with businessmen Steve Ferguson and Amrith Maharaj for the alleged receipt of US$2.1 million by fraudulent means and conspiracy to obtain contracts valued $1.6 b
Carlos John
1. Dismisses allegations of a $52million bank account.
2. John is defeated by Tunapuna MP Eddie Hart in the October 2002 general elections.
Basdeo Panday
Panday and his wife Oma are charged with corruptly receiving 25,000 pounds Sterling. Galbaransingh and John were charged with corruptly giving the money to the Panday's as an inducement or reward.