By Sue-Ann Wayow

THE lawyers who voted in favour of Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC, at a special meeting last Friday have made fools of themselves, grovelling at Armour’s feet.

This is according to Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

Speaking at the United National Congress (UNC) virtual report on Monday night, Persad-Bissessar called for the minutes of that meeting to be made public.

“When the transcript of that meeting is made public, all of T&T will know the truth of what happened,” she said.

Last Friday, members of the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago (LATT) convened a Special General Meeting to have a vote of no-confidence in the AG following public discrepancies in his involvement in the Piarco International Airport court matter.

The majority voted that they maintained confidence in Armour, who subsequently said he was humbled by their decision.

However, those members came under fire from Persad-Bissessar – a senior counsel and former attorney general.

As a member of LATT, Persad-Bissessar who attended the meeting said 551 persons either voted for or against which was 18% of the association.

“These figures show that there is apathy and disinterest in the legal profession on important issues. All politics aside, this is a matter of some concern – a strong, vibrant and independent Bar supports the rule of law in any country,” she said.

Lambasting senior attorneys who have benefitted from state briefs, she praised “brave young lawyers who stood up for justice” including Kiel Taklalsingh and Renuka Rambhajan.

Persad-Bissessar said, “The vote may not have gone your way, but those of you who voted in favour of this motion can hold your heads high and be proud because you did the right thing.

“Because all those who grovelled to Armour and to the PNM in that meeting know they have made fools of themselves. Like Armour, they know they no longer have any credibility in the eyes of younger and the larger group of lawyers of the public.”

She said, “These men just shamed themselves as beggars and now you have so many people laughing at them. I always knew many of these seniors had no self-respect, but today I thank them for exposing themselves to the entire legal profession as the grovelers and eat-a-food that they truly are.”

The political leader again called on Armour to resign.