Tuesday, September 18, 2012

AG Ramlogan agrees with CJ, but says T&T must move forward

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan told local media he agrees with Chief Justice Ivor Archie that more time is needed in order to abolish preliminary enquiries. However he said the country must address the issue in a decisive manner.

Archie said on Monday at the opening of the 2012/2013 Law Term eliminating preliminary enquires requires several critical changes and could not be done realistically until at least the first quarter of 2013.

Ramlogan agreed. "So whilst I endorse what the Chief Justice said, that we need to have a measured, organised approach, I also wish to say that if we are not careful, we will be talking about it for the next 15 years," Ramlogan said.

The AG also said he is not surprised to hear the CJ say that the Judiciary never discussed or contemplated partial implementation of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act 2011.

"That is not news to me. I did not hear prior to that (the proclamation of Section 34 of the Act) that the Judiciary, or the Director of Public Prosecutions for that matter, say that they had expected that proclamation.

"This matter has been fully ventilated and I said it was a Parliamentary oversight. It certainly was not within the contemplation of the Parliament at the time. If it was, I think the ramifications and the implications, and certainly the unintended consequences, have now led to that matter being put to rest.

"Questions will continue to be asked about this matter but we need to move on from it as well because we also have to devote our attention to the more critical pressing issues affecting the day-to-day operations of the country."

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Jai & Sero

Jai & Sero

Our family at home in Toronto 2008

Our family at home in Toronto 2008
Amit, Heather, Fuzz, Aj, Jiv, Shiva, Rampa, Sero, Jai