“Drunk driving” allegation…Attorney General rejects claims Finance Minister was “intoxicated”
Attorney General Anil Nandlall in a statement yesterday said that allegations of Finance Minister Ashni Singh being intoxicated and failing to submit himself to a breathalyser test last Sunday night should be rejected. The release by the attorney general came after efforts yesterday afternoon to solicit a comment from Minister Singh about “drunk driving” allegations related
to an accident.
Singh who arrived late for the sitting of Parliament walked briskly into the Chambers as he was questioned by reporters, saying that he would be offering no comment and everything should be directed to the Attorney General.
Meanwhile, Nandlall’s statement said that the minister was taken to a city hospital for medical attention shortly after the accident.
“An associate of the minister facilitated the driver of the vehicle and the lone passenger to be taken to a city hospital for medical treatment,” the statement said. It was noted that the matter had been reported and was being investigated.
It was also stated that without any prejudice to the rights of all the parties to seek legal recourse, the Attorney General met with the driver, the owner of the vehicle and the passenger with a view of exploring the possibility of bringing the matter to an amicable end.
“Allegations that the Minister of Finance was intoxicated and failed to submit himself to a breathalyser test are rejected…indeed, the minister was not invited to take a breathalyser test by anyone and in fact, the occasion to do so did not present itself,” the Attorney General said.
“It is hoped that this disclosure will bring to a swift end, the speculations and inaccuracies which are being peddled in the public domain in relation to and in connection with this matter.”
On Sunday, February 23 Dr. Singh’s vehicle, a Pathfinder, collided with another car at the junction of Delph Avenue and Garnett Street, Georgetown.
It was reported that eyewitnesses claimed the Minister ‘jumped’ the intersection and crashed into a Toyota AT 192 model taxi. Eyewitnesses had also alleged that the Minister hurriedly left the scene and appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.