Fireworks over acronym, ass statement at Hindu Credit Union hearing

(Trinidad Express) it was a simple enough question.
“What does the acronym PEARLS stand for?”
The inability of former Hindu Credit Union (HCU) president Harry Harnarine to properly answer that question however yesterday sparked a heated confrontation at the commission of enquiry into the collapse of the HCU.
British Queen’s Counsel Edwin Glasgow, who posed the question, told Harnarine he was “making an ass” of himself.
Glasgow repeated the statement twice.
Harnarine in turn demanded an apology and reminded Glasgow that “massa” (slavery) days are over.
The heated exchange which lasted close to five minutes led Stuart Young, the attorney for Ernst and Young, to request a break in the enquiry’s afternoon session.
Sir Anthony Colman, the lone commissioner to the enquiry, aceeded to Young’s request.
The drama unfolded yesterday as Harnarine spent his third successive day on the witness stand at the enquiry being held at the Winsure Building, Richmond Street in Port of Spain.
Glasgow, lead counsel to the enquiry, began his examination of Harnarine before the enquiry’s lunch break.
After the lunch break resumed Glasgow continued his examination of Harnarine.
Glasgow asked Harnarine if he had been paid some $5.9 million during his ten-year tenure at the helm of the HCU.
Harnarine said that sum spread over a ten-year period was insignificant compared to the amount of money taxpayers were spending on the enquiry and for Glasgow’s legal services.
Harnarine apologised for the statement.
Glasgow said his shoulders were broad. Seven minutes later however the gloves came off.
Glasgow asked Harnarine what the acronym PEARLS meant.
Harnarine could not answer.
The Process Enabling Accounting and Reporting Linked System (PEARLS) is the accounting standard credit unions in this country employ for their financial statements.
Glasgow said the over 185,000 depositors at the HCU would be surprised to realise Harnarine “did not even know what the acronym stood for”.
Harnarine retorted by asking Glasgow what the insurance term “Court of the Table” meant.
Colman told Harnarine he could not pose a question to Glasgow.
GLASGOW: Mr Harnarine we all understand your embarrassment. It must be very embarrassing in front of a thousand people watching to make an ass of yourself.
HARNARINE: What is that!
GLASGOW (tries to move on to another question): Go to page 12.
HARNARINE: Did I hear properly. ‘make an ass of myself’?
GLASGOW: An ass, a fool, playing around with hundreds of thousand of people’s money and not even knowing what the industry standard was.
HARNARINE: Mr chairman I demand an apology! I am not here to take any insults, I am not here under the Massa days and I would not have any person coming into my country to tell me that I am making an ass of myself. If not I will have to leave or something. Mr chairman, I call upon you Sir Anthony Colman, I respect you and I feel that Mr Glasgow is losing his objectivity, is losing his balance and I am trying my best to cooperate, to answer to the best of my ability and I will not have him telling me I am making an ass of myself. I take serious objection to that.
GLASGOW: Very well.
COLMAN: Let’s go to page 12.
HARNARINE: Mr chairman again I am saying that I demand an apology because I will not disrespect Mr Glasgow. How can you tell somebody they making an ass of themselves!
GLASGOW: Mr Harnarine can I just remind you what you said on oath was that you did not know what the industry standard stood for and I suggested to you that that was embarrassing and that is why you were giving very long statements and playing around with me
HARNARINE: No Mr Glasgow with all respect you asked me also what caused us to invest into the companies. And I think that you asked a question and I can explain however.
GLASGOW: Well I hope I allowed you every opportunity.
HARNARINE: No, no, no I am still saying that you cannot tell me that I am making an ass of myself. If you need to say that, how can I answer to you. How can I feel comfortable in this enquiry. How you behaving so because you are a British and I am an East Indian?
COLMAN: Mr Harnarine the four-legged reference was yours not counsel’s.
GLASGOW: Go to the top of page twelve will you.
HARNARINE: Counsel said that!
GLASGOW: Mr Harnarine I did say that in light of the evidence you have given in your embarrassment was making an ass of yourself. Is that clear. If that caused embarrassment I am sorry. Let it be for others to judge when they hear your evidence.
HARNARINE: Is this what this whole enquiry is really about?
GLASGOW: Mr Harnarine perhaps you did not hear what I said.
YOUNG: Mr chairman might I respectfully suggest that this might be an appropriate time to take a break and just let temperatures blow cool a little.
Colman acceded to the request.
After the ten-minute break Harnarine returned to the witness stand and said out of respect for the amount of taxpayers’ dollars were being pumped into the enquiry he would cooperate.
“Only because of the amount of money the State has spent on this enquiry and out of respect for yourself I am prepared to let bygones be bygones, I do not even want an apology and I will continue to cooperate with this enquiry,” Harnarine said to Colman.
Colman thanked him.
Glasgow continued his examination of Harnarine.
Later on during his examination Glasgow posed a question and warned Harnarine that it was not a trick question.
“I will expect anything from you from now on,” Harnarine said.
Harnarine is scheduled to return to the witness stand today.