By Sue-Ann Wayow
TWENTY million dollars which could have been spent on fixing roads or fighting crime is now being paid to former murder accused men.
That is outrageous and former Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi must leave Cabinet as his mismanagement and incompetence have once again cost taxpayers millions of dollars.
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar in a release on Tuesday called on Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to fire Al-Rawi from the Cabinet altogether as the High Court judgment on Monday raised several questions about both Al-Rawi and current Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC.
Acting Attorney General Stuart Young is also launching an investigation into why the State did not defend a multi-million dollar claim by the nine former murder accused who were accused for the murder of businesswoman Vindra Naipaul-
Persad-Bissessar said, “The public is entitled to be outraged, angry, and upset that over $20 million which should go towards fixing potholes and solving the crime problem will instead be paid to nine former murder accused of one of the most horrific murders in this country’s history.”
Referring to the Vincent Nelson lawsuit, the Opposition Leader said it was not the first time, Al-Rawi’s actions has put the State at risk of losing millions.
“The incompetent and negligent approach to this matter by the former AG must be properly reviewed and interrogated to determine whether he acted deliberately or recklessly in the discharge of his duties,” she said.
Questions Al-Rawi and Armour must answer:
1. Why did Al-Rawi and Armour not file a Defence to defend the state against this claim of malicious prosecution? Almost eight months had passed since the claim was filed until Justice Joan Charles was forced to grant judgment in default of Defence.
2. Having not filed a Defence, why did Al-Rawi and Armour not file any evidence to oppose this multi-million-dollar Assessment of Damages?
She said, “To not file a Defence is one thing but to not file any evidence in opposition to the claim for damages takes even Al-Rawi and Armour’s incompetence to a mind-bogglingly new level.”
Persad-Bissessar is also calling on the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Commissioner of Police to immediately launch an investigation to determine whether Al-Rawi and Armour are guilty of misconduct in public office by virtue of the reckless handling of the matter that has resulting in the high payout.
She added that it is to be noted that Armour was not free from blame as the Assessment of Damages took place under his tenure after he was appointed AG.
Persad-Bissessar said, “We call upon the Prime Minister to let Justice Sebastien Ventour and the lawyers who were paid to start the Commission of Enquiry into the Point Fortin Highway (which cannot get off the ground) be given new Terms of Reference to investigate this unprecedented and massive payout to determine what went wrong and why.”
