Caption: Barry Padarath
COUVA South MP Barry Padarath has launched a blistering attack on the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago (LATT), accusing the group of bias and selective outrage after it commented on issues raised by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar in relation to the Zones of Special Operations (ZOSO) Bill and its outcome in the Senate.
In a statement, Padarath, who is also Minister of Public Utilities, said the Government agreed with the prime minister’s position and claimed she was seeking to “even the playing field” by identifying “special interests” that “masquerade under the guise of independence.”
Padarath said it was “amusing but not surprising” that LATT had “suddenly discovered its voice,” alleging the association had remained silent during the People’s National Movement’s decade in office on matters touching the rule of law and constitutional governance.
“For a decade, while the PNM occupied the seat of government, the Law Association perfected the art of strategic silence,” he said.
He also alleged that while “hundreds of millions of dollars flowed out of the public purse in legal fees,” members of the legal fraternity benefited and did not challenge the former administration.
Padarath listed a series of controversies and asked where LATT stood on each, including: attacks on former auditor general Jaiwantee Ramdass; the postponement of local government elections; allegations of political interference in the appointment of a commissioner of police; a reported indemnity arrangement involving Vincent Nelson; the return of Brent Thomas from Barbados; Covid-era border re-entry decisions; the Paria diving tragedy; payments tied to a commission of enquiry; and allegations involving a Special Branch report connected to a PNM senator.
He also referenced a Senate claim by an independent senator that two Court of Appeal judges privately made politically biased comments about UNC senators while politically sensitive matters were before the courts. Padarath questioned whether LATT demanded the judges be identified or condemned what he called “judicial misconduct.”
“The truth is unavoidable; the Law Association has no moral authority to lecture this Government,” Padarath said, alleging the group defended the rule of law only when it suited its “political and financial interests.”
He called on LATT’s executive members to publicly disclose legal fees earned from state work over the last decade, arguing that conflicts of interest should be exposed. Padarath also said the Government “will not buy votes in the Senate” and “will not buy the Law Association’s silence or its support, by handing out million dollar briefs.”
Padarath ended by calling for an end to “hypocrisy” and “selective outrage,” adding: “Let justice prevail, let the truth triumph and let the chips fall where they must.”
