By Prior Beharry
ATTORNEY General Faris Al-Rawi wants the court to determine whether it is legal for Watson Duke to be appointed Deputy Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) while still Chairman of the Public Service Association (PSA) and the Registration Recognition and Certification Board (RRCB).
The interpretation summons was filed in the High Court on Thursday and listed the THA as first defendant, Duke as the second defendant and THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine as the third defendant.
Duke has signalled his intention to resign from the PSA on December 31.
He is the political leader of the Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) which captured all but one seat in the December 6 THA elections. The People’s National Movement (PNM) won only one of the 14 seats.
The AG also wants the court to determine whether a proper construction of the Integrity in Public Life Act allows for a secretary in the THA to also be the PSA president and a member of the RRCB.
The summons was filed by instructing attorneys Tenille Ramkissoo, Kadine Matthew and also listed were Fyard Hosein, SC, Kerwyn Garcia and Rishi Dass.
For all the asphalt in T&T I cannot understand what difficulty the AG has with an interpretation of 16(😎 of the 1996 THA Act. He writes two foolish letters to THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine complaining that Duke is illegally in occupation of the post of Deputy Chief Secretary because of his post as PSA President even though he has submitted his resignation to quit in a reasonable period (31 Dec) and renounced receipt of any remuneration .The language of the law is clear like daylight and any Fifth form student can understand its meaning and scope. When Mr Augustine puts him in his place he now engages the High Court to waste the Court’s time with a frivolous and vexatious matter prosecuted by a highly paid battery of lawyers arguing an exercise in futility. If he had difficulty with Duke’s election he should be writing the Presiding Officer who is charge of the Meetings of the Assembly or The President who swore in Duke. But he is fomenting a vendetta against Farley and Duke and now engages the High Court in his political agenda. Faris will lose again because Duke is not in receipt of remuneration since December and the Court will expect that he will need time to give up a most important position relating to the welfare of 80,000 public servants to serve the interest of the people of Tobago. Duke has demonstrated a certain level of political astuteness that challenges the core of the PNM and the AG gone bazodee with sheer stupidity and delusions of grandeur claiming the right to encroach on the proceedings of the Assembly – a semi-autonomous entity.