ACTIVISTS and rank and file members of the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) along with a handful of constituents from Port of Spain South gathered at the Port of Spain Magistrates’ Court from as early as 8 a.m. Monday to lend support to their beleaguered Member of Parliament.

Former Energy Minister and Port of Spain South MP Eric Williams appeared before Magistrate Lianne Lee Kim to answer seven fraud charges arising out of the Dhansook matter.

In a letter to the prime minister last year, PNM Councillor Dansam Dhansook claimed that he paid bribes to Williams and former Works Minister Franklin Khan, who is also before the courts to answer six bribery charges.

Williams, who was charged with receiving $75,000 in bribes from Dhansook, was granted bail in the sum of $600,000.

Williams’ supporters, who waited until after 2 p.m. when the ex-minister emerged from the court, was in no mood to talk to the media.

Supporters made it their duty to deny reporters and media photographers access to the minister as he entered his vehicle, but one party activist revealed to TnT Mirror that she believed Williams is innocent.

With concern etched on her face, the female activist said: “Eric is a good Christian man, but he is too harden and stupid; that’s why he is in this mess.”

A devout Christian herself, the activist said she was among the small group that urged Williams to enter politics some years ago, but claimed that as soon as the MP got his feet wet in the political arena, he ditched the rank and file party members and leaned heavily on “technocrats and advisers”.

The activist continued: “He lost touch with the grassroots, and became disconnected from his constituents and other people at the ground level who supported him at the very beginning.”

Apparently, some of his supporters believe that this “disconnection” left Williams, a political novice, open to elements that seek to destroy the party from within.

“He even excluded his wife, who stood at his side for so many years,” said the activist.

Activists waited for hours for former Energy
Minister ERIC WILLIAMS to emerge from
the Port of Spain Magistrates’ Court.

WILLIAMS acknowledges his supporters as he
leaves the court.

The UNC also had its day in court last Monday.
Here, Fyzabad MP CHANDRESH SHARMA sees
UNC Party Chairman BASDEO PANDAY into a
waiting vehicle after he (PANDAY) was ordered
to re-appear on Thursday.

Supporters block the gate to the Port of Spain
Magistrates’ Court as WILLIAMS emerges,
forming a human barrier between him and
journalists. At left is Deputy Mayor of Port
of Spain RISHI LAKHAN.

Asked to explain why so many came out to support the former minister after he had cast them aside, the activist said: “That is the kind of party the PNM is.

“We would never abandon him, because we know deep down, he is a good man; it’s just that he made a mistake.”

Another supporter echoed the activist’s sentiments: “Eric is a good man.

“He damn harden, but he is a good Christian man and he will eventually be delivered from this trouble,” she concluded.