By Sue-Ann Wayow
BEFORE the Firearm User’s Licence (FUL) Audit Report is laid in Parliament, persons adversely affected would be able to comment and make representation.
This was stated by Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC, who said the report will not be laid in the Parliament as yet as there were additional processes to be followed.
However, Government-led by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is dealing with the matter as quickly as possible, he said.
On Wednesday, Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC said, “The Government is concerned that this must be dealt with as expeditiously as possible.”
At a brief conference held by the AG’s Office, Armour spoke of a letter written to Larry Lalla, attorney representing former Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith who is one of the main persons named in the report outlining several considerations.
Copies were also given out to the media and Armour asked that it be read in its entirety as bits and pieces were being leaked.
The letter was written by legal director Tenille Ramkissoon, under the AG’s instructions.
Armour said in the letter dated September 6, 2022, the first point was that the firearms’ audit will eventually be laid in Parliament.
He said, “I emphasise that as a constitutional responsibility on the part of the Cabinet led by the Government. Section 75 of the Constitution provides that there shall be a Cabinet for Trinidad and Tobago which shall have the general control of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and shall be collectibly responsible therefore to Parliament.”
The AG spoke on three other points from the letter.
“Fairness and due process require that all persons who may be adversely affected by the findings in that report, should be afforded the opportunity to comment and to make representations on any findings in that report,” Armour said.
He stressed on the plural persons as there were several others involved.
Armour also said, “Consideration is being given as to whether there are persons adversely affected by the findings in the audit report who had not had an opportunity to comment and make representation on the matters given rise to the findings and if there are such persons, what steps are to be given in the audit report and the summary.”
Consideration was being given to where adverse comments were given about persons before the disclosure of the report and its summary, that “an appropriate person or body of persons should review the report should give an opportunity to give those persons who may be adversely affected to comment and to make representations.”
Armour said, “An important point throughout the letter when one reads it fairly is that the audit report or any summary will not be laid in a manner as to prejudice its value as an investigative audit report.”
He also said he was not at liberty to comment on the report’s content nor what steps will be taken next.
And the AG also answered no questions outside of the FUL topic.
Dr Rowley, in July said he received the report and said it makes “very disturbing reading.”
The report would be sent to the Police Service Commission (PolSC) and acting Police Commissioner McDonald Jacob and the executive summary would be laid in the Parliament when it re-opens, he said.
But, in a letter dated August 29, 2022, to Dr Rowley and the PolSC, attorneys Larry Lalla and Avory Sinanan, SC, expressed concern that Griffith was never afforded an opportunity to respond to the report.
They threatened legal action if it was laid in Parliament.
