AG Ramlogan defends Warner, says government won't negotiate with criminals

File: AG Anand Ramlogan and National Security Minister Jack Warner

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan defended Jack Warner Friday, telling the Express newspaper the National Security Minister was at a meeting that included gang leaders because Warner was "naturally curious" and on a "fact-finding mission".

Warner has said he did not know the details of the meeting when Port of Spain Mayor Louis Lee Sing invited him to attend and that he was surprised to learn that Public Services Association president Watson Duke was also at the meeting.

He accused Lee Sing and the opposition People's National Movement (PNM) of an attempt to entrap him.

Ramlogan reiterated that Government's strict policy against meeting with criminals or gang members. And he made it clear that neither Cabinet nor Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar was aware of what that meeting was about.

"The subject of the meeting was not an initiative by the Government. The matter was never raised at Cabinet to be considered much less reviewed as a matter of policy. Hence there is no reason that any Government minister has to or ever will meet or treat with criminals holding the country to ransom," he said.

Warner told reporters Wednesday he sent the director of the Office of Law Enforcement Policy, Keith Renaud, to attend a meeting last week at the mayor's office. He added that Renaud was supposed to report on whether the expectations of the persons at the meeting were within the law and that based on that report he would have decided if any further action was needed.

Ramlogan said it didn't get to that point. "There is no question of the Attorney General's office or the Government for that matter considering, far less meeting any 'demands' made by gang leaders or criminals in our society. It has never been contemplated and will not be considered," he said.

And he stood with his colleague. "But one can well understand Mr Warner's curiosity and desire for information. Had he met with gang leaders, that would have been a different story but he was gathering information and possible criminal intelligence that may be useful in the fight against crime," Ramlogan told the paper.

"The Government position to the meeting and greeting gang leaders and criminals is very clear: we do not negotiate with criminals and that position remains unchanged...

"As Attorney General I will not countenance far less entertain any requests from criminals and gang leaders. The rule of law must respected," he said.

The Express said it spoke with Renaud who said he had no comment to make. "I am not in a position to say anything," the paper quoted him as saying.