AG not rushing into Ish, Steve extradition matter

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan is not going to make a rush decision on the fate of businessmen Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson who are facing extradition to the United States.

"This is not a decision one can rush, bearing in mind that the situation is susceptible to judicial review. To rush it would be to defeat the very objective that some people have in mind.

"Due process and the rule of law will prevail and there will be a fair decision at the end of the day," Ramlogan told reporters Friday.

Both men are in jail in awaiting a final word. Earlier this week a judge denied their challenge to the legality of the extradition request, leaving a final decision with the AG.

"Now that my hands have been untied, there is a process that needs to be followed, and the accused here are in fact behind a bar. That means the process will now take place to consider the representations made," Ramlogan said.

He added that there is no possibility at the men of the men absconding so what has to happen now "is a process that will engage, listening to the representations with legal advice from a legal team...and getting representations from...the United States, and then I would make my decision."

Ramlogan said he needs to invite the U.S. Justice Department to make representations as to why Galbaransingh and Ferguson should be extradited and when he has both sides of the story he'll decide using "the discretion given to me as Attorney General."

Galbaransingh and Ferguson are wanted in Florida on several charges of fraud relating to financial transactions during the construction of the Piarco International Airport.