‘AG Handpicking of Comments Dangerous’

By Sue-Ann Wayow

THE statements made by Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC, that credit must be given to the Government for securing victory in two local courts in the matter against activist Ravi Balgobin-Maharaj are dangerous.

Balgobin-Maharaj, commenting on Armour’s statements that he made at a press conference on Thursday said, “The pronouncement made by Reginald Armour after the PNM were defeated in the Privy Council today is one of the most dangerous statements ever uttered by an Attorney General who isn’t part of a dictatorial regime.

“Any attempt by an Attorney General to handpick certain comments from a minority ruling of a judgement, or a ruling that has been reversed in an Appeal, simply on the merits that it fits with their own personal narrative rather than abide by the substantive ruling of the majority members of the panel is not only unethical and corrupt, but it only indicates that Mr Armour is determined to make up his own interpretation of the law even when it conflicts with a Court ruling.”

Balgobin-Maharaj had lost his case in the High Court and local Court of Appeal before appealing to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Law Lords – Lord Reed, Lord Hodge, Lord Briggs, Lord Kitchin and Lord Richards heard the case on March 15, 2023 with the judgement passed on Thursday morning.

Balgobin-Maharaj said, “Any suggestion by the Attorney General that he will ignore the majority and instead focus on the minority ruling when he makes his recommendations to Cabinet is dangerous to the point of bordering on illegality and treachery.”

He said he will continue to monitor the situation along with his legal representation to ensure that the PNM adheres to the Privy Council ruling and the Local Government Election is called post haste. 

“The day that PNM decides to ignore the Highest Court in the Land for their own benefit is the day that Trinidad and Tobago has actually become a dictatorship under the PNM!” Balgobin-Maharaj said.

Call local governments election now  

If the Government had any respect or decency left after the ruling of the Privy Council, a local government election should be called immediately.

Opposition Senator Jayanti Lutchmedial told AZP News on Thursday that while Armour, focused on the ruling of  local judges – the ruling of the Privy Council by was the majority decision.

Lutchmedial was part of the legal team  headed by attorney Anand Ramlogan, SC, who represented activist Balgobin-Maharaj in the case against the State as he challenged the Miscellaneous Provisions (Local Government Reform)  2022 Act which allowed for councillors and aldermen to serve a four-year-term instead of a three-year term.

She said, “This is a victory for the people of Trinidad and Tobago. The UNC (United National Congress) remains the bastions of democracy and the last line of defense against full-fledged dictatorship which is evidently the agenda of the PNM.

“The Privy Council ruled that the right to vote out is as important as the right to vote in and the interpretation placed on the amendments by the government had the effect of essentially choosing representatives for the citizens for an additional year.”

Given the PNM’s actions and inactions since they took office in 2015, Lutchmedial said the party seem to be  terrified of facing the electorate.

“They are a failed government quickly turning Trinidad and Tobago  into a failed state and they are well aware of the discontent amongst the population.”

The AG’s statements were also rejected by other UNC Members of Parliament.