CONTINUED attacks on the independent institutions by government officials do unquantifiable harm to Trinidad and Tobago’s international reputation and further endangers the economy.
This is according to the National Transformation Alliance (NTA) in a release on Monday by its Legal Director Joan Byrne.
The party headed by former Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith stated that it welcomed the decision of Justice Devindra Rampersad with respect to the termination of ex-Central Bank Governor Jawala Rambarran, whose firing was initiated by Minister of Finance Colm Imbert.
The Rambarran case also follows that of the decision by Justice Margaret Mohammed, upholding the Judicial Review application of Rohonie Ramkissoon, former Acting Commissioner , Board of Inland Revenue who successfully challenged Imbert’s decision not to recommend her for the post of Chairman, BIR despite her vast experience and qualifications, Bryne said.
She said, “Justice Rampersad, who found that Rambaran’s termination was in breach of the Constitution, went on to cite his deep concerns regarding the Central Bank’s failure to fully and frankly assist the Court. This duty of the Central Bank to lay its cards on the table is well established in legal authority and flows from our Constitutional framework. This disturbing lack of cooperation by the Central Bank speaks volumes as to the independence of the Central Bank and compounds the trampling of the Constitution in Rambarran’s summary termination.”
Bryne said, “Undermining the independence of the Board of Inland Revenue and the Central Bank, two key institutions in the management of our economy and the protection of taxpayers money, should be of the deepest concern to all citizens.”
On top of all of that was the Vincent Nelson fiasco that saw Government’s attempt to undermine the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, NTA added.
NTA stated that both the Rambarran and Ramkissoon matters will cost taxpayers millions of dollars especially with the Ministry of Finance’s appeal.
“Yet this should come as no surprise as the Government, in its hubris, continues to play fast and loose with taxpayers’ money,” the release stated.
And the party said that the strengthening of independence and accountability of national institutions was paramount on NTA’s agenda.
