John Jeremie back as AG of T&T

John Jeremie is back in the Trinidad & Tobago cabinet as the new attorney general. He took the oath of office Friday, succeeding Bridgit Annisette-George who resigned earlier in the week.

Annisette-George's sudden departure from the post has raised serious questions. Prime Minister Patrick Manning has stated that it's because of a conflict of interest over the CL issue. But the opposition isn't buying that and has suggested that she was pushed out of office.

Related story: Manning confirms AG is quitting

Jeremie's return to office as the top legal adviser to the government is also controversial, especially because of his past performance as the attorney general who was in charge of the infamous chief justice affair.

Speaking with reporters Friday he brushed off criticism of his appointment saying he is not in the post to make friends and win a popularity contest. He made it clear that it's not easy to win friends when one's job is to fight corruption.

“One of the principal functions of the Attorney General is in relation to anti-corruption and the World Bank has identified corruption as one of the evils which has affected resource-rich economies such as ours,” he said.

“It is not a very popular part of the portfolio, it makes you no friends but it is going to be my lot to deal with anti-corruption matters as they arise...I know that there is quite a lot on my table, I know that the office of the Attorney General is not a popularity contest and the last time, it took a toll on me. But as I say, I am prepared to work,” he said.

Jeremie was Trinidad & Tobago's High Commissioner to London for 11 eleven months and had served as Attorney General from 2003 to 2007.

On the chief justice matter Jeremie said the Mustill Report found no evidence of wrongdoing on his part. “The Mustill Report has ...124 paragraphs or thereabouts and a conclusion and there are no condemnatory statements...about the office of the Attorney General. That is a fact of life,” he said.

Read the report and related stories

He insisted that he was just doing his job when he intervened in the Sharma matter, adding that he was dealing with allegations of judicial corruption, which he said is a part of the function of the Attorney General.

Jeremie said his priority is to look at the Government’s legislative agenda, including an amendment to the Integrity in Public Life Act which is currently before the Senate.

He admitted that he has not seen the legislation, "But I need to look at it to satisfy myself that the principles which underpin it are sound.” He said he would no hesitate to tell the government to withdraw it if he believes it is not in keeping with the principles of the original integrity legislation.