By Sue-Ann Wayow
ATTORNEY General Faris Al-Rawi is not the best person to be giving legal advice or instruction pertaining to conflicts of interest as he himself is conflicted.
This is according to Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Farley Augustine who also said that the THA executive does not have to answer to the Attorney General as the THA was a semi-autonomous body.
Speaking at a post-THA council meeting on Wednesday, the first held with the new executive, Augustine spoke about the letters sent from Al-Rawi addressing Watson Duke’s positions as both Deputy Chief Secretary of the THA and the President of the Public Services Association (PSA).
Duke has formally resigned from the PSA’s post, one that he has held since 2009 and his resignation will take effect from December, 31.
Augustine said, “With regards to the issue of the AG’s letter, the truth is both letters from the AG only arrived on my desk this morning. I understand that it was sent to the Assembly legislature, to the clerk of the House, but I did not get them until this morning.
“On the issue of whether I will respond or not, the truth is the Tobago House of Assembly does not answer to the Attorney General. The Tobago House of Assembly is a semi-autonomous body and we definitely do not answer to the Attorney General.”
He continued, “I will add that perhaps the Attorney General is not the person best person to give advice on conflicts of interest, given that he is part of a government that is paying his family handsomely, multiple millions in rental.”
Augustine said he would prefer if advice came from Tobagonian and former THA chief secretary Hochoy Charles but “The AG? Not so much.”
He stated that Duke has already tendered his resignation and by the day it becomes effective will allow for him to have a smoother transition into his role with the THA.
