In response last night, Attorney General Ramlogan said he had no difficultly in complying with the PM’s instructions. He said he would convene a meeting in the shortest possible time to discuss the matter with all the relevant stakeholders. “The former solicitor general and I had already initiated discussions with the prisons administration, which we will now deepen and continue with the other stakeholders. “I welcome any form of enquiry. I have absolutely no difficultly with that,” Ramlogan said.
He said the last time he spoke to Donaldson-Honeywell was on Monday, adding that he continued to maintain a very cordial relationship with her. The first step, Ramlogan said, was to get all the particulars of the investigation so that it could be thoroughly and specifically addressed.
Still a bad all—Rowley
In an interview on CNC3 last night, Rowley said the latest decision by Persad-Bissessar made the issue even more troubling. “One has to ask why is the Prime Minister afraid of having an investigation into matters which are clearly requiring an investigation, and in putting the matter to be investigated by the Attorney General the Prime Minister is asking for a ‘himself to himself.’
“All of the problems surrounding this calamity relate to actions in the Office of the Attorney General. So how could the Prime Minister, in the face of a demand for an investigation by a judicial officer and the Prisons Officers Association ... how could she be putting this matter back to the Attorney General to be investigated?” Rowley asked.
Law body supports probe
The Law Association of T&T finally broke its silence on the matter yesterday, saying it supported the call for an immediate independent investigation into the allegations. The association met in a 45-minute meeting on Monday to discuss the issue and in a press release yesterday said: “The association urges, as a first step, the full disclosure of all allegations and supporting facts. We expect the full co-operation of all stakeholders to bring clarity and an early resolution of the issues.”
The association said it noted the considerable public discussion and anxiety arising out of the “publicised request” by the Prisons Officers Association and the former solicitor general for an investigation into matters which may adversely affect the State’s defence in prison litigation and alleged unethical business ventures. It added that it was deeply committed to the observance of the rule of law and preservation of the constitutional rights of citizens.
“In light of the allegations which may constitute an abuse of process and/or perversion of the course of justice and which have the potential to undermine the administration of justice, the Law Association supports the call for an immediate independent investigation into these allegations,” it added.