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CEPEP chairman Joel Edwards says he never spoke with former Rural Development and Local Government minister Faris Al-Rawi about a recent Cabinet decision on extending contracts. Edwards was asked by Cepep’s attorneys, led by Anand Ramlogan, SC, on the advice he received from the ex-minister on the eve of the general election in April.

On August 10, in his response to the barrage of pre-action protocol letters from Cepep’s attorneys, Edwards’ legal counsel St Clair O’Neil denied Edwards ever spoke with or received instructions from then-line minister Al-Rawi about any recent Cabinet decision related to the disputed board note. He said Edwards recalled having several discussions during his tenure as chairman with the CEO, the minister and others regarding a 2017 Cabinet decision and the authority it gave the board.

Edwards, he added, categorically rejected claims that he fabricated a fraudulent misrepresentation to deceive Cepep into extending the contracts, insisting he was not guilty of fraud, misrepresentation or any breach of duty.