Gaspard also told the Commission, chaired by the prominent Barbadian jurist, Sir David Simmons, that the state has no intention of dropping the sedition and incitement charges against Bakr, after a High Court last month ordered a re-trial on the matter.

Neither Bakr, 67, nor his attorney Wayne Sturge, appeared before the Commission as summoned on Monday and Sir David said it showed the continued ‘disrespect” that the attorney had for the Commission appointed by the Kamla Persad Bissessar led People’s Partnership coalition last year.

Sturge had earlier written the Commission indicating that while his client was prepared to testify before the Commission, he would be placed at a disadvantage given that he was still before the courts on charges of promoting a terrorist act, sedition and four other offences arising out of comments he made during an Eid-ul-Fitr sermon in November 2005.