PORT of Spain South MP Keith Scotland has denied any close ties with former People’s National Movement (PNM) treasurer and chairman of Flavorite Foods Ltd Andre Monteil.Scotland also yesterday again dared Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to voice her allegations against him outside the Parliament.
unpaid debt: Former PNM treasurer Andre Monteil.
He has maintained there has been no wrongdoing on his part in the matter of claims by the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) that Scotland and a member of his law chambers were negligent and sought a “phantom” lawsuit over $2.4 million in unpaid electricity debt owed by the now-defunct Flavorite Foods Ltd, owned by Monteil.T&TEC has issued a pre-action protocol letter threatening legal action against Scotland.Scotland addressed the matter in a People’s National Movement (PNM) news conference at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition, Port of Spain.He said having read T&TEC’s pre-action protocol letter, his attorneys will be instructed on the way forward.However, Scotland said he understands that “before the ink could dry”, the legal letter had found its way to all the media.Scotland said he will be dealing with the matter “with equal gravity and seriousness”.He went on to challenge the PM to make her statements outside the Parliament.Responding to media questions, Scotland said in his entire life, he has met Monteil once, casually.“There is absolutely no relationship between myself and Andre Monteil,” Scotland insisted.T&TEC has claimed that a lawsuit was filed in its name without proper authorisation from its corporate secretary or board.The utility company stated in its pre-action protocol letter that updates provided by the attorneys falsely claimed a default judgment application was progressing.Speaking in the Parliament last week, Persad-Bissessar raised allegations of collusion and an improper relationship to suppress the debt recovery and protect Monteil.The PM said she has ordered a Fraud Squad probe and legal action against Scotland.Persad-Bissessar claimed that Scotland’s firm allowed a massive debt, owed by Flavorite, to become statute-barred by making false representations that legal action had been taken to recover the sum.Scotland later presented stamped court documents and stated that the claim was refiled, an entry of judgment in default was made, and a query from the registrar is pending.He further argued that Covid-19 pandemic provisions had suspended limitations.Scotland also noted that he had suspended his legal practice on joining the Cabinet in July 2024.
