US FATCA-repeal lobbyist James Jatras was a defence witness for ex-Yugoslavian leader Slobodan Milosovic, who was indicted by the United Nations’ International Criminal Court on war crimes including genocide, extermination, murder and a host of other atrocities, says Finance Minister Colm Imbert.
“Jatras was also a consultant for Kosovo Serb leader (Oliver) Ivanovic, who was jailed for war crimes.
“He was also an aide to a former US Senator accused of lewd behaviour in a US restroom and Jatras was also criticised by US Muslims for bigoted remarks about Islam,” Imbert added.
Detailing the matters during Thursday’s Parliament debate on the FATCA legislation, Imbert asked the Opposition: “That’s who you want to associate with?”
The response came after Opposition MP Roodal Moonilal raised questions about Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley’s recent criticism of Jatras.
Both Imbert and Rowley strongly condemned Jatras during Thursday’s debate. In the February 13 leg of FATCA debate, Rowley had warned the Opposition about Jatras. But Jatras, in a subsequent media statement, accused Rowley of “defaming him.”
On Thursday, however, Rowley, alluding to Jatras’ links with Milosovic, Ivanovic and “all those characters of that nature,” added: “I know of him, I’m free to declare Jatras a gun for hire...it’s a company you can hire for anything you want...don’t come and tell me what to say in Parliament, saying I defamed him.
“I have the freedom of speech on behalf of the people of T&T and you (Opposition) and Jatras could put that in your pipe and smoke it. So when Jatras’ point of view is being told to influence the national population, I have to tell them dismiss his point of view, he’s making a good living from whoever pays him.”
Imbert pointed out Jatras was a defence witness for Milosovic, who was indicted during the Kosovo war in 1999 by the UN’s ICC Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
He said Milosovic was indicted for crimes against humanity, including, genocide, complicity in this, murder, persecution on political and racial grounds, inhumane acts, extermination, imprisonment, torture, unlawful confinement, suffering, unlawful deportation, destruction/appropriation of property, plunder of private/public property, attacks on civilians, destruction of national monuments and those dedicated to religion.