Cardenas-Ragoonanan stands behind decision

See the focker at the PNM's 50th Anniversary celebrations at Crown Plaza in September 2006.

By Kimberly Mackhan

Senior Magistrate Lucina Cardenas-Ragoonanan has slapped down allegations by Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday questioning the impartiality of her decision to free former Energy Minister Eric Williams of corruption charges.

Cardenas-Ragoonanan said in a telephone interview with Cable News Channel Three yesterday morning that shadows cast over her objectivity and non-alignment were “without merit.”

“Why does everything have to be politics. I do my job and I wish he (Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday) would really read the evidence,” said Cardenas-Ragoonanan.

“Maybe the time has come for me to say something because this is absolutely ridiculous. I mean, so what does that mean: that one, whatever position you are in, you are not a citizen of this country and whether you are aligned to anything. I am not aligned to anything.”

On Monday Cardenas-Ragoonanan discharged Williams of seven counts of unlawfully accepting $75,000 from People’s National Movement Mayaro Councillor Dansam Dhansook for a seismic project in Galeota in 2003.

Williams had served as Energy Minister from 2002. He resigned from the post in January 2006 after being charged.

Cardenas-Ragoonanan’s judgment prompted Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday to question whether Cardenas-Ragoonanan, who became a senior magistrate in 2000, was “too closely aligned to the ruling party” of which Williams was a member.

But Cardenas-Ragoonanan, who has served more than 12 years on the bench, said that the case against Williams did not suffer from inadequate and undemocratic decisions.

“I went to the law. I went to what I am required to do and I made my decision purely based on that. Absolutely nothing else. I have absolutely no alignment with the PNM,” she said.

Her ability to perform duties as a senior magistrate and her integrity have suffered several assaults from members of the Opposition United National Congress in the past following the active participation of her husband, Harry Ragoonanan, in the PNM.

Ragoonanan is the chairman of the party’s Oropouche East constituency.

“Obviously, it is absolutely unfair. So what, I am not an individual? I do not have a mind of my own? I’m almost 50 years old, I didn’t come out yesterday. I’ve been sitting on the bench for the last 13 years, acting very impartially all the time. I always have and will continue to do so,” Cardenas-Ragoonanan added.

The appointment of Cardenas-Ragoonanan as a temporary judge last year was withdrawn by the Judicial and Legal Service Commission following the opposition of the UNC.

One big fockin fraud.

since he geh charge we say that he is goin to be freed. This is how the fockin PNM does operate.

You aint see they put fockin Harry wife to handle the case. Oh fock man she husband is Chairman of ah PNM constituency.

Wa yuh think dey does be talking about when he trying to bull she in the evening.

These fockin niggas and nigga lovers think every fockin body dotish like dey balisier lickin supporters.

The above pic was taken from a Mirror article.

http://www.tntmirror.com/friday/2006/sep29/story06.htm