Armour Blanks Questions on Miami Case

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By Sue-Ann Wayow

IN his first press conference since assuming office on March 16, Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC, on Wednesday refused to answer questions on whether he should resign on allegation of a conflict of interest based on his representation of a former minister in a corruption case stemming from the construction of the Piarco International Airport.

And despite the many calls for him to resign, it seems as though he will be keeping his post and position as titular head of the legal fraternity.

Armour on Wednesday evening called a press conference, the purpose of which was to elaborate on a statement he made minutes earlier in Parliament on the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Legislation. He said the legislation was not yet ready to be proclaimed.

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The conference was held at El Tucuche 11 on Level 12 of the Office of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Tower at the Government Campus Plaza, Corner of London and Richmond Streets in Port of Spain.

He was however grilled by journalists asking questions as it relates to the Miami court matter.

Armour was adamant that he would say nothing more than what was stated in a press release on Sunday.


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He said, “I don’t intend to make any comments beyond what I said in the statement that was published on Monday of this week and I am not going to change my mind on that.”

Armour continued, “I have said what I had to say. I assume everybody has read the statement, if people have not read it, I invite you to read it.”

When further pressed the Attorney General repeated that he had nothing further to say beyond his statement that was published this week.

He asked journalists if they had no questions pertaining to public procurement then the media conference was over.

When asked why he would not be addressing the Miami issue, he replied, “Because I am not.”

He added, “I have already pronounced on the issue, I have said as much as I am prepared to say… There are impending judicial proceedings. I do not intend beyond what I have said in very restrictive terms to make any comment on anything that has potential to impact on the proceedings that are taking place in Miami.”

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Armour said, “I do not intend and I will say only this. I do not intend to give anyone another Section 34 opportunity to derail the trials that are taking place in Miami for another ten years.”

And when asked to comment on the numerous calls for his resignation, picking up his papers, Armour said, “I have nothing further to say.”

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The press conference lasted just over 25 minutes.

Section 34 was a piece of legislation that was repealed by the People’s Partnership government that sought to dismiss matters that were called in the courts and did not get going after ten years.

Armour broke his silence on the matter in a statement on Sunday. He has been called upon to resign or be fired after it was revealed that he was a defence attorney for Kuei Tung and his partner Renee Pierre in a criminal matter arising out of the construction of the Piarco International Airport more than a decade ago.

The State of Trinidad and Tobago had filed civil proceedings to recover monies from the alleged fraud during the construction of the airport. This case is based on similar facts to that of the criminal case. When Armour became AG two of the defendants in the Miami case Kuei Tung and Steve Ferguson filed an application to have him disqualified since all civil litigation of the State must be brought in the name of the attorney general and he was once an attorney representing Kuei Tung.

See related stories below:

Saddam: Armour Admits Guilt…

Armour: My Involvement was Much More…

 

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