Attorney General Anand Ramlogan has dismissed the latest call for his resignation by president of Fixin’ T&T, Kirk Waithe. Waithe called on Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday to fire Ramlogan because of recent allegations about his importation of Range Rovers.
However, in a statement issued in response to Waithe yesterday, Ramlogan described the call for his resignation as “somewhat amusing.” He said the issues raised were before the Integrity Commission and he will “co-operate fully” with the Commission to clear his name of the allegations which he said were “malicious and false.” Ramlogan said Transport Commissioner Ruben Cato has confirmed in writing that “the necessary legal requirements were met and that my vehicles were properly and lawfully registered.”
“The fact that the same engine number was recorded on the certified copy for both vehicles was an error on the part of the Licensing Authority,” he said. The AG said Mark Navarro, of Navarro’s brokerage, has “also clarified the other issues which were caused by the different instructions which were apparently given by the customs documents by the broker.”
Ramlogan said Waithe’s call for his resignation was part of “a wider political smear campaign and strategy.” He said Waithe has several questions to answer about his organisation and must say who were the executive and general members of Fixin T&T, who were its financiers and what was its constitution. Ramlogan said Fixin T&T must say if it was “a one-man organisation to provide tactical support for the PNM.” “Until Waithe provides answers to these questions, I am afraid he’ll just have to ‘wait’ for my resignation,” the AG said.
In calling for his resignation, Waithe said Ramlogan was “totally unfit to hold the position of the Attorney General and the PM should “remove him with immediate effect.” “Ramlogan has consistently demonstrated that he neither understands nor appreciates the remit of the office he currently holds and continues to bring it into disrepute,” he said. He said there were numerous inconsistencies in the process, timelines and paper trail regarding the importation, registration and acquisition of two Range Rovers by the AG.
In an earlier statement, Ramlogan said the lapse in communication at the Integrity Commission that left him in the dark regarding about ongoing investigation into the ownership of the two luxury vehicles was “a political conspiracy.” Though the investigation was mentioned as being “before” the commission in a media report last Sunday, Ramlogan was only made aware of that investigation after he wrote to the commission questioning the veracity of what he had read.
On Thursday, some four days after the publication, Ramlogan received a letter from the commission confirming the investigation. The short response, signed by commission registrar, Martin Farrell advised Ramlogan that “an investigation plan was approved by the Integrity Commission on September 23, 2013.” The letter apprised Ramlogan of the “investigation plan” to look into his connection to the registration and licensing of two luxury Range Rovers and possible breach of the Integrity in Public Life Act.
“The Integrity Commission regrets that this matter was not brought to your attention before but now does so with apologies,” the letter stated. The letter also stated that “a draft response was prepared on November 6, 2013, was approved for issuance at its meeting held on November 12, 2013.” But Ramlogan is questioning whether more sinister motives were at work behind the scenes. He said he was “shocked” by what he described as “a serious breach and violation in the procedure of the Integrity Commission.”
“I cannot help but wonder if there a political conspiracy to bring me down. The complaint was made by Senator Hinds on July 29, 2013. An investigation plan was agreed on September 23, 2013. A letter is drafted to notify me of these developments but it was never sent. The Integrity Commission is asking me to believe this was an ‘error.’ No explanation whatsoever was provided as to how this alleged error occurred. It is too fundamental an error and cries out for an explanation,” Ramlogan said.
—With reporting by Renuka Singh.