By Sue-Ann Wayow
OPPOSITION Member of Parliament for Barataria/San Juan Saddam Hosein has filed a no-confidence motion against Attorney General Reginald Armour.
Hosein filed the Private Members’ Motion in accordance with House of Representatives Standing Orders 35 & 36 (1) on Monday.
The motion states whereas:
Section 76(2) of the Constitution provides that the Attorney General has conduct of all civil litigation within and outside of Trinidad and Tobago;
The Attorney General is required to uphold the Constitution, the Legal Profession Act including obeying the Code of Ethics and the rule of law to maintain public confidence, trust and integrity in the Office of the Attorney General;
A Miami Court disqualified the Attorney General from acting on behalf of Trinidad and Tobago due to a conflict of interest as the Defendants in the Miami matter were his former clients in relation to the criminal proceedings in the Piarco matters that were held in Trinidad and Tobago;
In the matter the Attorney General has declared in an affidavit dated 24th April 2022 under the penalty of perjury in the US Court making several false statements and patently misrepresented facts of his deep involvement in criminal proceedings on behalf of his former clients;
The Attorney General gave false evidence in the affidavit that at the time he was acting for his former clients in the criminal proceedings in Trinidad and Tobago he was a junior lawyer and was restricted to “minimal legal research and to taking notes”;
The Attorney General’s conflict of interest, false statements made to the US Court and his conduct has embarrassed Trinidad and Tobago and brought his office into odium and disrepute.
The Opposition has consistently called for Armour’s removal as Attorney General and on Monday refused to listen to his contribution in the House of Representatives.
Several attorneys have also stated they have no confidence in Armour and have written to the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago to take action.
