By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago is calling on Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to withdraw his statements made about allegations of impropriety by the Law Association.
In a press release on Tuesday, LATT stated that while it does wish to rehash matters which are now several years old, it was important to refer to some of the events pertinent to the matter involving Chief Justice Ivor Archie, which the prime minister raised in his press conference on Saturday.
Speaking at the Piarco International Airport, Dr Rowley was asked his opinion on a proposed motion of no confidence to be debated by the association against Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC, on July 15.
Rowley responded, “As for the Law Association, the only thing I am concerned about is who in this country has the opportunity to pass a vote of no confidence in the Law Association. Then I want to vote.”
He then went on to speak about a previous issue which involved past head of the association Douglas Mendes, SC saying that the association tried “to entrap” him into impeaching Chief Justice Ivor Archie in 2019.
The Association said that as part of the enquiry Mendes wrote to the Prime Minister enquiring whether there had been alleged communications between him and Archie on that matter to which no response was received.
“By letter of 22nd July 2019, the Prime Minister advised of his decision not to impeach the Chief Justice, and only then said that he had ‘not received from the Chief Justice nor have I sent any WhatsApp messages to him… nor indeed have I had any communication with the Chief Justice regarding’ the allegations. The Prime Minister added, ‘Clearly I cannot ignore this fact, which effectively disposes of this complaint.'”
The association said that the contents of the prime minister’s letter must be revisited to point out that the Law Association had written to him, because it held the view that if there had been such communications, the prime minister would have had to reveal them and take them into account, when considering whether or not to impeach the Chief Justice.
“The Law Association’s enquiry was neither surreptitious nor an attempt to entrap the Prime Minister as alleged or at all. These were questions the Law Association was required to ask the Prime Minister as part of our enquiry. It is indeed regrettable that comments on the matter have been expressed in a way which suggests that the Law Association acted improperly in discharging its legitimate functions,” the release stated.
And with respect to Dr Rowley’s comments about the Special General Meeting which has been scheduled look at a motion of no confidence in the Attorney General, the Law Association said under Clause 23 of the First Schedule to the Legal Profession Act, it was obligated to call such a meeting once a requisition from at least 25 members requesting one was received.
“Our members are fully entitled to engage this process and to ventilate matters which members view as falling within the mandate of the Legal Profession Act. The Law Association sought to gather relevant documentation on the matter and have invited the Attorney General to respond to matters raised by members of the Law Association if he wishes to do so. The Law Association will proceed with appropriate deliberation observing the principles of fairness and natural justice,” it stated.
