By Sue-Ann Wayow
IF Finance Minister Colm Imbert was truly interested in being accountable to the public for the expenditure of legal fees, he would list the matters won by the Ministry of Finance, state the amount of legal fees paid to the preferred “PNM lawyers” and explain what benefits redounded to the citizens if this country who funded the undertakings.
This was the statement made by Opposition Senator Jayanti Lutchmedial on Wednesday following Imbert’s decision to appeal the High Court order ruling that the State was unconstitutional in its dismissal of former Central Bank Governor Jwala Rambarran.
Lutchmedial said that Imbert’s response to an Express editorial “displays not only the arrogance of a man who has allowed his malice and political ill-will to be a drain on the treasury, but demonstrates his ignorance of the law.”
Should the appeal be lost, he should take his personal money to foot the legal bill and not use taxpayers’ dollars, she said.
Referring to a press release Imbert via the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday morning, Lutchmedial said, “The Minister famously described himself as a bush lawyer, however even bush lawyers know that the decision of the High Court stands until overturned… the mere fact of an appeal being filed does not vitiate a decision handed down by the high court which vindicated the rights of a citizen which were violated by the Minister’s conduct.”
She also stated that it is further unbecoming of a Ministry to say via press release that “in many cases, our Court of Appeal overturns decisions made in the high court.”
“This statement suggests and gives the impression to the public at large that judgments delivered by the High Court judges are unreliable and not to be taken seriously. This is a most unfortunate but more so incorrect statement and it is reprehensible for the Minister of Finance to make such a sleight criticism of the judges who ruled against him,” Lutchmedial said.
She said if Imbert was also seriously concerned, he would also disclose the amount of money the Central Bank has spent on legal fees in the last seven years under the PNM.
Lutchmedial said, “Mr Imbert has lost more matters in court than any other Minister of Finance in this country’s history. Instead of taking jabs at the judiciary, he should put his money where his mouth is and promise to pay out of his pocket is he loses these matters so that taxpayers will not have to pay for his incompetence and arrogance.”
