Why are Warner's critics not addressing racial attacks on Warner: AG Ramlogan

Anand Ramlogan has some questions for those who are attacking Jack Warner for acting within his rights to move against the Highway Re-Route Movement that was standing in the way of building the highway to Point Fortin.

Soldiers demolished the camp on Wednesday while supporters of the protest group attacked the national security minister verbally.

Critics, including the Congress of the People, have denounced the action but according to the Attorney General, no one is addressing the very serious matter of how Warner was treated.

He said, "I invite the COP, I invite all of the persons who are speaking on this matter to address two issues. The racial abuse, taunts and provocation and ridicule to which Minister Warner was subjected, is it that you condone that? 

"And secondly, what was the legal right of the Movement to be there in the first place? On what basis are you saying that the Government ought to have tolerated this any further?"

He wondered what moral right the opposition People's National Movement (PNM) has when it has acted in similar fashion in the forcible removable of now deceased Disabled People's International President, George Daniel, from his wheelchair during a 2003 protest at the compound of the National Flour Mills. He said the PNM acted in the same manner during the anti-smelter protests.

"The PNM didn't say anything that time. Rowley was a member of the Cabinet, I ask him where was your voice then? Ramlogan asked.

"When I saw Dr. Peter Vine being bodily moved in the middle of the ocean and flung into the water repeatedly when the aluminum smelter project was going up, I did not hear Dr. Rowley's voice condemning his own Government for treating people like that. And in that matter, the protest was in fact vindicated in the court because the CEC certificate was quashed."

Ramlogan accused the group of attempting to create public mischief, noting that the Government had been lenient in not taking action against protestors who attempted to block the Prime Minister in Debe on Indian Arrival Day.

He also defended Minister Warner's physical presence during the exercise, stating it was one of preventing false accusations of brutality being leveled against the Government.