An adversarial mood prevailed when former financial secretary in the Ministry of Finance Shirley Tyndall took the stand at the Financial Services Adjustment Company (FINSAC) commission of enquiry at The Jamaica Pegasus yesterday.

More than once during the sitting, which was the last for the year, Tyndall clashed with chairman of the commission, Justice Boyd Carey, about specifics of the case, which she could recall from memory.

Tyndall, who held her position for 16 years up until 2005 when she retired, said it was hard for her to recall specific dates about events, which were more than 10 years ago. The former financial secretary was responding to questions about the role of the insurance industry in the crash of the 1990s.

Terms of reference

Because of her inability to answer certain questions, she was asked if she had received the letter of the terms of reference of the commission and if she thought it was important.

Tyndall said she had no views at all about the commission. She also told the commission that she did not have the necessary tools at hand to do research to provide answers for the sittings.

"At this point in time, I am a pensioner sitting at my house, minding my own business and doing what I want to do. What I am saying to this commission is that I have not got resources or data in which to do this type of analysis and as a private citizen, who is going to support me to get the support staff to do this type of work?" she said.

Carey did not agree with her, saying she once held a powerful position in the country and her decisions affected many lives.

The hearings will recommence on January 12 next year.