AG Ramlogan backs Warner on move against Re-route protesters

AG Anand Ramlogan and Jack Warner at Thursday's post cabinet media briefing

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan told reporters on Thursday the action that the State took the day before against the Highway Re-route Movement was long overdue.

On Wednesday soldiers and police demolished the camp set up by the group led by Dr Wayne Kublalsingh as supporters of the movement hurled racist slurs and abuse against National Security Minister Jack Warner.

Ramlogan was speaking at the post cabinet news briefing. He said he had advised Warner "a long time ago" to take action against the protestors who were occupying state lands and delaying construction on the highway to Point Fortin.

"The advice I gave to Mr. Warner a long time ago is that this type of lawlessness should not be tolerated," Ramlogan said.

"I gave him that advice when he was Minister of Works and Transport and I found he was too slow to move then. 

"When I saw what happened at the Debe High School on Indian Arrival Day where there was a breach of security and protocol of the highest order, where people had to be physically and forcibly removed by police and then crying. It is as though they are trying to paint us in a corner," he added.

Ramlogan said the protestors had no legal right to the land and added that in his view the State had every right to protect its investment. He added that he was not afraid of assertions made by the group's lawyers that legal action would be taken against the Government.

"If they have a legal case then by all means I encourage them to take it to court. But you cannot blackmail this Government and bully us and hold us to ransom because what you are doing is holding the people of Point Fortin, Debe, Mon Desir, all those persons to ransom. This matter will affect hundreds of thousands of lives," the AG said.

Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal apologised to Warner on behalf of his constituents. 

Speaking at the media briefing Moonilal said, "I want on behalf the constituency of Oropouche East to apologise to Mr. Jack Warner for that attack on him in that way on the soil of Oropouche East. Our constituents expressed the view that it was regrettable. Some are angry, some are sad that Mr. Warner was subjected to that type of treatment."