New T&T AG faces no-confidence motions

Trinidad & Tobago's new Attorney General John Jeremie is under intense attack from several quarters including the legal fraternity and politicians.

The Law Association is convening a special meeting to "consider, discuss move and pass" a no-confidence motion in Jeremie, who is also the titular head of the Bar of Trinidad and Tobago.

And UNC Deputy Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar is expected to raise a motion of no confidence in Jeremie at Friday's sitting of Parliament.

Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday told reporters Wednesday he applauds the move by the Bar Association, saying Jeremie brought the Judiciary to its lowest level during his previous term as attorney general.

Media reports since Jeremie returned to the post have said during Jeremie's previous term in office he tried to influence the then Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Geoffrey Henderson to lay criminal charges against Panday and business tycoon Lawrence Duprey.

Panday referred to the reports noting that, "There is evidence before the public that he sought to prosecute certain persons without evidence. Once that kind of allegation is made where the Attorney General is trying to put pressure upon the DPP to charge people in spite of the fact that there is no evidence, we don't feel that that person is fit for office and that is why we are going to move that motion."

Jeremie returned to cabinet following the abrupt resignation of Bridgid Annisette-George, who has only said that she resigned for personal reasons. Prime Minister Patrick Manning has said it is because there were concerns that she might have been in a conflict of interest in the matter of the bailout of CL Financial.

With regard to the CL issue Persad-Bissessar had raised a motion of no confidence in Finance Minister Karen Nunez-Tesheira. She alleged that the minister used insider information and was in a conflict of interest against with respect to her involvement and lead role in the CLICO bailout.

Senior Counsel Desmond Allum is leading the legal battle against Jeremie based on Jeremie's record. The motion that Allum wants lawyers to discuss refers specifically to the exchange of correspondence as disclosed exclusively in the Sunday Express of May 31, between former director of public prosecutions, now a High Court judge, Geoffrey Henderson, and Jeremie.

The motion states that Henderson felt constrained to write: "I am not subject to your directions. Your continued efforts to have me initiate charges against certain persons are highly improper and should they continue, can imperil the successful prosecution of any charge initiated in the matters under investigations."

It alsos discloses atttemps by Jeremie "to improperly and illegally interfere with criminal prosecutions for political purposes, and by so doing to undermine and threaten the constitutional independence of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions".

The motion published in the Trinidad Express states:

"Be it now resolved that the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago do: -

a) Condemn in the strongest manner the reported attempts by the Honourable Senator John Jeremie to improperly and illegally interfere with criminal prosecutions for political purposes;

b) Condemn in the strongest manner the reported attempts by the Honourable Senator John Jeremie to undermine and threaten the constitutional independence of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions; and

c) Declare that it has absolutely no confidence in the Honourable Senator John Jeremie as Attorney General and as titular Head of the Bar of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

The motion also took note of the fact that the Law Association has, by virtue of Section 5 (f) of the Legal Profession Act, 1986, a duty to promote, maintain and support the administration of justice and the rule of law.

Source: Trinidad Express