No one is above the law: AG Jeremie

Attorney General John Jeremie served notice Wednesday that everyone engaged in corruption would face the legal consequences.

He told the Senate during the budget debate that applies to "friend or foe" because no one is above the law.

"I promise the people of Trinidad and Tobago that ... allegations of wrongdoing will be scrupulously investigated. There will be no sacred cows, Mr Vice-President. The rule of law demands nothing less," Jeremie said.

"The fight against corruption has pitted this ministry against colleague ministries, friends and political opponents. It is a fight that we as a nation cannot lose. Our adversaries by definition are well-financed and highly motivated.

"In some cases, they are the very elite in this society. But we can ill afford to lose this battle.

"To succeed, we therefore need the goodwill and support of every patriot. And we shall need your prayers," he said.

While he spoke of crime-busting he sternly defended his position in shutting out any possibility of investigating allegations against the country's highest elected official - Prime Minister Patrick Manning.

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Jeremie observed that two critical agencies in his jurisdiction appear to have become lethargic and he pledged to reinvigorate them.

He charged that The Anti-Corruption Investigations Bureau has been "idle in relation to serious white-collar allegations of criminal activity over the past two years" and promise to change that immediately.

He also said the Mutual Legal Assistance Authority which deals with transnational crime and anti-corruption "has functioned poorly for some time".

The pace of justice is too slow, he said, pointing to white collar crimes.

"The fact that I have left this job and returned to find prosecutions meandering aimlessly along, fills me with no pride as a citizen of this country. The fact that after seven odd years, certain white-collar crimes are winding their way through our court system in an unhurried manner fills me with grave concern," he observed, without being specific.

He said government has a package of measures to speed up the justice system.

These include:

• legislation to introduce a Diplock Court (a non-jury High Court)
• legislation to allow for the selection of special juries in complicated fraud cases
• special legislation to deal with illegal firearms

He added that "comprehensive legislation to attack money laundering and financial crime" is also on the way.

Jeremie stressed that government will guarantee that it would not do any of this without full consultation with the Judiciary.