Statement by REGINALD DUMAS on the ruling of the Honourable Mr Justice Robin Mohammed in the matter of Dumas versus the Attorney General of T&T. All citizens of T&T have a vested interest in upholding the Constitution of T&T. All citizens are consequently entitled to demand that the powers conferred on our leaders by the Constitution for the country’s benefit are exercised conscientiously and lawfully.
On September 4, 2013, His Excellency Anthony Carmona, ORTT, SC, President of the Republic of T&T, nominated Dr James Armstrong and Mrs Roamar Achat-Saney for appointment to the Police Service Commission. As a citizen of T&T, I was concerned that His Excellency might have acted outside the powers vested in him by Section 122 of the Constitution, which limits appointments to the Police Service Commission to persons who are “qualified and experienced” in certain discrete disciplines.
On my behalf, the late Mr Karl T Hudson-Phillips, QC, therefore, wrote the Hon Attorney General, Mr Anand Ramlogan, SC, on September 26, 2013, inviting him to consider the lawfulness of the two nominations in the light of Section 122 (3) of the Constitution. No response to that letter has yet been received.