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'Dishonest Kitch'....Families in court wrangle over Rainorama By Imran Ali, Trinidad Express Wednesday, October 3rd 2007 |
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The late Lord Kitchener-arguably one of the greatest pioneers of calypso music-has been described by his own family as a dishonest man, who duped his wife to transfer their home to his name so he could hand it over to his mistress. This unflattering portrayal of the calypso legend, whose real name was Aldwyn Roberts, is one of the main arguments being put forward by his family as they defend a claim from relatives of Roberts' mistress, Betsy Ann Howell-Pollard, that the house now belongs to them. Roberts dubbed his home at 610 Diego Martin Main Road "Rainorama", after his song by the same name copped the Road March title for Carnival 1973. He lived there with his common-law wife, Valerie Green, and their children from 1971 to 1989, until their relationship broke down and they moved out. Another woman, Howell-Pollard, moved in and the property was transferred to her name. Howell-Pollard, by her will, left the property to her sister, June Ann Howell-Logan, who lives abroad. Another sister who lives in the country, Susan Gittens, and a friend, Charmaine Kumar, sued Green and her children to get possession of Rainorama soon after Roberts died in February 2000. The case has been assigned to Justice Lennox Deyalsingh, and yesterday attorney Gregory Delzin argued that the defence which Green filed should be struck out and his clients, Gittens and Kumar, should be given immediate possession. Delzin said even though Rainorama had been in Green's name, and notwithstanding her contentions that she worked for Roberts on the understanding that her dues would go to building the home, Green's rights to the property were extinguished when Roberts transferred it to Howell-Pollard. In resisting the application, Green's attorney, Kerwyn Garcia, contended that Green still had a right to possession because the transfers to Roberts and then to Howell-Pollard were tainted by fraud. He claimed that Roberts asked Green to transfer Rainorama to his name in 1988 so he could make a business transaction, but once this was done Roberts transferred the property to Howell-Pollard in consideration for her "love and affection". Garcia also argued that Howell-Pollard knew of the fraud, but he admitted that this particular claim was not made in the pleadings in the case. In light of Delzin's contention that Howell-Pollard's title could not be disturbed unless it was shown that she had actual knowledge of the fraud, Garcia submitted that the judge could allow him to amend the pleadings to include the claim. According to Garcia, an amendment at such a late stage would not be objectionable, as both parties were always aware that the fraud claim against Howell-Pollard was being made. Justice Deyalsingh said he would rule on the point on October 26. Attorney Annabelle Boynes also represented Greene and her children, while attorney Faikah Carrmuddeen appeared with Delzin. |