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Offline zuluwarrior

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« Last Edit: May 01, 2014, 04:20:24 PM by zuluwarrior »
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Offline zuluwarrior

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Re: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Thread
« Reply #331 on: May 01, 2014, 07:46:21 PM »
Door open for new prison litigation probe
Anand must meet with stakeholders
Published:
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Geisha Kowlessar
 
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Attorney General Anand Ramlogan
In the face of mounting public pressure, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has ordered Attorney General Anand Ramlogan to revisit allegations of collusion involving lawyers engaged in prison litigation.
 
 
Persad-Bissessar made the decision yesterday, calling on Ramlogan to meet with acting Solicitor General Carol Hernandez, Commissioner of Prisons Conrad Barrow, Inspector of Prisons Daniel Khan, Minister of Justice Emmanuel George and the Chief State Solicitor Christophe Grant to revisit the matter and to chart the best way forward.
 
 
Her statement came even as the Law Association and Association of Law Officers added its voice to the list of those calling for an independent probe into allegations made by former solicitor general Eleanor Donaldson-Honeywell, who expressed concern about what she called an “unethical business” venture in prison litigation matters.
 
 
Persad-Bissessar’s decision also came in the face of an ultimatum from Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley that she call a probe and order Ramlogan to step aside, or else he would launch public protests similar to that in the Section 34 matter. In a release yesterday, the PM said the decision to revisit the matter had come after Donaldson-Honeywell reiterated her call for a probe in the matter to continue and the Prison Officers’ Association also called for the same.
 
 
Noted recent issues
Persad-Bissessar said she was under the impression that when she (PM) dealt with the matter after it first raised in a letter last August by Donaldson-Honeywell, that the former solicitor general had expressed approval with how it was handled.
 
 
The PM said that was the impression she had when Donaldson-Honeywell subsequently penned a second letter which stated: "Honourable Prime Minister, your proactive attention to this matter is greatly appreciated as it underscores your recognition of the interests of those engaged in civil litigation on behalf of the State and their clients in the Prison Service.
 
“In light of the discussions with the Attorney General, through your intervention, I am now confident that the issues raised in my letter will be adequately addressed and accordingly would no longer seek further investigation through your office.” The PM said: “As for the objections carried in the media about my own handling of the particular report, given that the former solicitor general is of the view that the matter had been appropriately handled by me, who else could or should question her professional assessment? 
 
“In my respectful view, the issue was treated with the urgency and seriousness required and the former solicitor general's expressed opinion validates my actions in this regard.” Notwithstanding that, the PM said she had noted Donaldson-Honeywell’s statement this week that she expected the probe to continue and the POA’s calls for it to be probed further and had advised the AG to meet with the key stakeholders to chart a way forward. 
 

I am wondering would anything change after the AG speak to these people ? Idont think so .
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Re: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Thread
« Reply #332 on: May 03, 2014, 01:47:35 AM »
Probe into unethical lawyers: prison officers refuse to meet with Anand
By Asha Javeed (Express).


SNUB FOR AG

The Prison Officers Association (POA) has refused to meet with Attorney General Anand Ramlogan to discuss concerns about attorneys and prison inmates involved in prison litigation against the State.

Their refusal comes two days after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar ignored calls for Ramlogan to step aside from any probe involving his ministry and lawyers in prison litigation and instructed him to meet with various stakeholders to address the POA complaints.

In refusing Ramlogan’s invitation to meet at his ministry on Monday, the POA maintains that only an independent investigation done on the matter would be adequate to determine why certain cases were settled and judgments filed in default for others.

Those issues, said president of the POA Ceron Richards, were important as money paid to prisoners could be ploughed into improving the prisons.

Richards told the Express that he was not being “disrespectful” but “the AG’s office is central to this matter and we reject any call for such a meeting”.

“Our consistent and clear call is for an independent investigation,” he said.

In a  statement issued yesterday, the POA said it was disappointed by Persad-Bissessar’s decision to appoint Ramlogan to a team to address their concerns.

“It is our firm view that this decision will not result in any objective outcome since the Attorney General has reported that a previous investigation done by his office revealed nothing to substantiate the claims made by the former solicitor general. 

“Additionally, it does not seem logical to us that it is prudent as it relates to transparency for the parties named by the Prime Minister to undertake such an investigation since to do so will appear that ‘himself is investigating himself’.  That is, each office named by the Prime Minister has a critical role in the process of handling these matters and is being asked to review themselves,” the POA said.

On Wednesday, Persad-Bissessar said she had noted the concerns of former solicitor general Eleanor Donaldson-Honeywell, SC and that of the POA to have the matter probed further and had set up a seven member team which includes Ramlogan, Acting Solicitor General Carol Hernandez, Commissioner of Prisons Conrad Barrow, Inspector of Prisons Daniel Khan, Minister of Justice Emmanuel George and Chief State Solicitor Christophe Grant to address concerns.

Furthermore, the POA said it was concerned about statements made by Ramlogan “on a television station which appeared to convey very negative connotations about Prison Officers in the conduct of their duties as keepers of the states prisoners and those responsible for public safety.”

“This is worrying and has deepened our concern about the Attorney General’s involvement in this investigation,” it said.

The probe centres on the complaints made by former solicitor general Solicitor General Eleanor Donaldson-Honeywell, SC.

On August 30, 2013 Donaldson-Honeywell bypassed line minister AG Ramlogan and wrote to Persad-Bissessar suggesting that a three-pronged investigation by the Inspector of Prisons, the Law Association and the Police Service be undertaken to determine whether attorneys involved in prison litigation are engaged in an “unethical business venture” which “may amount inter alia to breaches of professional ethics by the Attorneys involved and may have the effect of perverting the course of justice in litigation against the State.

She was also concerned “whether there has been over the period from mid-2010 a conflict of interest in certain key office holders increasingly taking action to support the said unethical business for direct and/or indirect financial gain.

Persad-Bissessar said she had forwarded that letter to Ramlogan to address the concerns. Ramlogan said he had addressed all of Donaldson-Honeywell’s concerns, which was encapsulated in another letter dated October 28, which said there was no further need for investigation by the Prime Minister.

The POA said: “The Prison Officers Association wishes to express its deep disappointment and finds it unfortunate that in light of what appears to be clear evidence of an unethical practice in the Jamal Sambury case, that the Honourable Prime Minister has not acceded to our public request for an urgent independent investigation into these matters but rather has chosen to refer the investigation to the Office of the Attorney General.”

On February 5, Master Patricia Sobion-Awai, in a 24-page ruling, called for an investigation to be launched into the circumstances surrounding how a prison inmate Jamal Sambury, represented by attorney Gerald Ramdeen, seemed to be able to have “copied” large segments of statements of successful litigants who won their matters before the High Court. 

The matter was referred to the Law Association by Registrar of the Supreme Court Marissa Robertson and is now before its disciplinary committee.

The POA said yesterday it refused an invitation to meet and participate in discussions surrounding this investigation “since we remain convinced that only an independent investigation  will adequately serve to determine the legitimacy or otherwise of the claims being made.  Therefore, the POA will not support any other type of investigation into this matter.”

The POA described the matter as “extremely serious” since the handling of these matters and its implications for prison officers were raised with the Solicitor General’s Office since May 2011.

It said the situation was severely damaging the morale of prisons officers and reflected a poor image locally, regionally and internationally. 

“The issue of officers’ safety and security as it relates to this matter was also raised as it became evident that the criminals were using these cases and adverse media coverage as a justification to attack and murder prison officers who are forced to work under conditions and perform their duties based on the systems and resources supplied by the State,” it said.


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Re: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Thread
« Reply #333 on: May 03, 2014, 02:03:10 AM »
Quote
Richards told the Express that he was not being “disrespectful” but “the AG’s office is central to this matter and we reject any call for such a meeting”.

“Our consistent and clear call is for an independent investigation,” he said.

In a  statement issued yesterday, the POA said it was disappointed by Persad-Bissessar’s decision to appoint Ramlogan to a team to address their concerns.

“It is our firm view that this decision will not result in any objective outcome since the Attorney General has reported that a previous investigation done by his office revealed nothing to substantiate the claims made by the former solicitor general.

“Additionally, it does not seem logical to us that it is prudent as it relates to transparency for the parties named by the Prime Minister to undertake such an investigation since to do so will appear that ‘himself is investigating himself’.  That is, each office named by the Prime Minister has a critical role in the process of handling these matters and is being asked to review themselves,” the POA said.

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Offline zuluwarrior

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Re: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Thread
« Reply #334 on: May 03, 2014, 12:26:47 PM »
Lawyers in AG’s former law firm CLIENT SWAPPING


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SWRHA lawyer in the dark
Anika Gumbs-Sandiford
Published:
Monday, June 20, 2011

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan
A battery of attorneys from Freedom House Law Chambers—the law firm which Attorney General Anand Ramlogan formerly headed—is allegedly engaging in client swapping regarding a number of lawsuits they filed against the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA). Attorneys, who initiated legal action against SWRHA on their clients’ behalf, have suddenly ‘jumped ship’, and are now defending the same Regional Health Authority they brought legal action against. While ‘A-Team’ attorney, Gerald Ramdeen—who has been retained by Ramlogan together with Alan Newman, QC, Guyanese Akbar Ali, British forensic accountant Martin Hall, and local attorney Mark Seepersad, to ferret out instances of corruption and malfeasance in state enterprises—is now on record representing several claimants in numerous matters against the SWRHA. Attorneys Cindy Bhagwandeen, Kent Samlal, Rachel Maikhoo and Marissa Ramsoondar who are or were attached to Freedom House Law Chambers, previously represented the claimants.

Settlements
The matter does not end there though. Sunday Guardian investigations have unearthed that settlements are being struck behind the back of Harrikissoon and Company—the law firm that has represented the interest of the SWRHA for the past eight years. The Sunday Guardian has learnt that a retainer is paid to the law firm per month for legal services provided to SWRHA. Approximately five lawsuits per month may be filed against SWRHA by disgruntled patients seeking compensation and damages for loved ones. Sunday Guardian investigations revealed that within recent times, deals are being offered to claimants, the result of which, if accepted, brings litigation to a premature end. Under the Civil Proceedings Rules 1998 as amended, a claimant that is successful in a High Court Action may be entitled to prescribed costs which are usually calculated based on the value of the claim or the amount awarded or the amount agreed between the parties.

Depending on the matter, prescribed cost may vary anywhere from $30,000 to millions of dollars. Not only is the alleged action of some of the attorneys a breach of the Legal Profession Act, sources said, but also a conflict of interest in instances where the said attorneys initiated the matters involved. Section 26 (1) of the Act states: An attorney may represent multiple clients only if he can adequately represent the interest of each and if each consents to such representations after full disclosure of the possible effects of multiple representations. Embroiled at the centre of the controversy is Bhagwandeen, who has been retained by the Authority in a matter involving Tricia Francis against SWRHA and the Attorney General. Documents obtained by Sunday Guardian identifies Bhagwandeen as the instructing attorney in several of the lawsuits filed by Ramlogan against SWRHA before his appointment to the Attorney General’s office. Before Ramlogan’s elevation he was known for his vociferous stance in defending the civil rights of citizens. It was only recently the Attorney General stated that in some instances it was cheaper to settle ongoing matters instead of engaging in lengthy litigation disputes at the cost of taxpayers.

Bhagwandeen now defending SWRHA
Ramlogan, in handing over the Freedom House office, assured his former clients of the confidence he had in Bhagwandeen whom he had chosen to lead the Harris Street, San Fernando law chambers as he embarked on a new career path. However, in an about turn, Bhagwandeen has reportedly now been retained to represent the interests of the SWRHA. Sunday Guardian investigations revealed that sometime around February 22, the Authority retained Bhagwandeen to represent the said client. However, within days of Bhagwandeen’s retention, the firm of Harrikissoon and Company expressed surprise over the move. Concerns were raised on whether the Board was apprised that Bhagwandeen along with other colleagues attached to Freedom House Law Chamber initiated several matters against SWRHA, some of which are completed and some of which are still ongoing. Investigations further revealed that it was noted that given Bhagwandeen’s involvement in the said matters it could be perceived as a conflict on interest. The Authority was also warned of the severe implications such a move can have for both SWRHA and the Attorney General who is also a defendant in this matter and was the former head of Freedom House.

A pre-action protocol letter issued to SWRHA last August objected to the move. An excerpt of the pre-action protocol letter stated: “This matter is against SWRHA and the Attorney General. You are once again reminded of the very severe consequence that will occur as to the selection of Ms Cindy Bhagwandeen to handle the conduct of this matter. The rules quoted in the Legal Profession Act as regards to the selection of attorneys in the conduct of legal matters must be adhered to.” Harrikissoon further noted that based on the medical report dated January 20, 2010, submitted by Dr Hari D Maharaj it can be inferred that the claimant intends to seek a lucrative settlement. He said while the claimant’s attorney did not indicate any specific sum for general or special damages it was suggested that SWRHA should accept liability and then be fixed with an exorbitant claim for damages. Copies of the pre-action protocol letter were also forwarded to secretary of the board, Carol Joseph and the Authority’s fired chief executive officer, Paula Chester-Cumberbatch. No response has been forwarded to the law firm to date regarding the said matter.

Claimants offered deals
Instead, the firm has been placed in a precarious position in a Workman’s Compensation matter involving Andy Joseph against the SWRHA. Sources revealed shocking plans to settle a matter without the necessary information being related to the law firm representing the SWRHA. The claimant’s attorney brought the proposal to the knowledge of Harrikissoon and Company when the matter came up for hearing on May 24. Sources revealed that Harrikissoon objected to the proposal on the basis of two reasons—the said application ran afoul of the limitation period within which such an application can be made and the worker did not qualify under the said application. Insisting that a proposal was offered, Harrikissoon was then advised to contact the Authority’s senior legal officer to confirm the agreement. Harrikissioon confirmed in a document that a directive was given for the matter to be settled at the said hearing or else the file would be forwarded to another attorney. The decision, however, is not sitting well with the law firm as it is on record stating that they failed to concur with the view that the said matter ought to have been settled.

Bodeo brought before Health Minister
In another instance, the Authority’s chairman, Dr Lackram Bodeo was brought to the attention of Health Minister Therese Baptiste-Cornelis in the matter—CV 2011-00443 Jerrick Loutan (a minor by his mother as his next of kin and next friend Mahadaye Boodram) against SWRHA. The Sunday Guardian learnt that the law firm of Harrikissoon and Company received directions from Bodeo that the legal papers in the Jerrick Loutan matter be forwarded to attorney Larry Lalla. But further investigations revealed that Harrikissoon took issue with the stance taken, objecting to the course of action adopted by Bodeo. Citing grounds for dismissing the directive, Harrikissoon informed Bodeo that the Board is the decision maker for the Authority and not an individual member or chairman.

RHA ACT says:
The Regional Health Authority Act Ch 29:05 at Sub Section 20(1) implies that the decision to appoint an attorney to represent SWRHA is to be undertaken by the Board and not an individual director or chairman. The Regional Health Authorities like most other Statutory Corporations acts through its chief executive officers. The members of the Board are not capable of directing and or instructing the employees.

Ramdeen: Whose concern is this?
“If I as an attorney have been briefed by the Government to represent the Government in certain matters relating to probes in the investigations and I have a legal firm what is the difficulty in me suing the Regional Health Authority (RHA).  Why is that allegation of  any importance to anyone. My entire practice of law has been in the field of public law; my entire reputation has been based on suing the State; I don’t see why anybody  is making an issue out of that. “What is the link of being part of the ‘A-Team’ and suing the RHA; the SWRHA is not under investigation.” Asked if he has been retained as the attorney for the claimant, he said: “I would have to check my records and see what matters I am listed in for the claimants. I have a team of attorneys that work with me. The matters before the High Court are matters of public record. Of whose concern is this?  It is matter of public record that I represent the Attorney General in a number of matters. I do not see why is that a concern of someone who does not want to divulge what their position is? “I am briefed in a number of matters where I represent Freedom House as counsel. Only last Friday I was briefed in an Appeal to represent Freedom House against the Public Services Commission.”

Comments

Bhagwandeen responds
Confirming  she has been retained by SWRHA to represent the Authority in a matter, Bhagwandeen said: “I am no longer on record for any clients who are now suing the SWRHA.” Asked if she was on record for previous clients who filed action against SWRHA, Bhagwandeen responded: “Depends on which clients you are speaking about. Clients have taken their matters elsewhere. I am not on record for any of those clients; they have chosen to take their matters to other attorneys.” Quizzed on whether she is on record for any client suing the SWRHA, Bhagwandeen replied: “I have been briefed in only one matter regarding the SWRHA and that is because I have no clients who are suing the SWRHA; so there is no conflict of interest. All my matters involving clients who had previously sued the SWRHA have been concluded or they have chosen to take their matters to other attorneys which I would have no conflict of because I would have no dealings with those matters. “I have been retained for SWRHA, not the Attorney General, and in one matter. One lonesome brief and one brief is no reason to get rid of the client or anything of the sort. The way how it’s coming across is because you all think it’s because I am affiliated to the Attorney General.”

AG responds
Commenting on the allegations, Ramlogan said: “It would be unethical for any attorney to switch lanes from representing the claimant and, thereafter represent the defendant in the same case. It would be a serious matter that would be in breach of the Legal Profession Act and may warrant disciplinary action by the Law Association if that is the case. If it is not in the same case then the concerns do not arise.” In a follow-up interview, Ramlogan added: “I have checked my own records at the ministry and my information is my former firm and the attorneys there never, never acted for the claimant. They were not retained by the State to represent the Attorney General in this matter. I am advised Bhagwandeen has been retained by SWRHA.”

SWRHA
Chairman of the SWRHA Bodeo in response to the matter via e-mail stated when he took office this Board inherited certain arrangements pertaining to the handling of legal matters in the SWRHA. These arrangements included a monthly retainer, a brief fee, and refresher payments for medical negligence cases. “It was also discovered that one law firm handled virtually all cases in the last eight (8 ) years' despite the recommendation that this firm was to receive only minor briefs and and matters relating to public law,’ Bodoe explained. Fees paid to this firm up to 2009, Bodoe said, represent a substantial sum and some of these legal matters are still ongoing. At the moment the law firm of Harrikissoon and Company, Bodoe stated, holds the briefs for the majority of legal matters. However, the Board is in the process of reviewing all legal matters and is currently compiling a panel of attorneys representing different areas of expertise and legal experience. As a result, different attorneys have been retained in a number of matters. Based on Bhagwandeen’s considerable experience in the field of medical negligence, she was assigned as instructing attorney in the matter involving the SWRHA and Tricia Francis. However, the assignment of any attorney to any case is subject to review pending finalisation of the panel. When the panel is finalised, Bodoe stated that the Board believes that the legal work of the Authority will be more equitably distributed.
« Last Edit: May 03, 2014, 12:30:20 PM by zuluwarrior »
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Offline weary1969

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Re: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Thread
« Reply #335 on: May 03, 2014, 01:48:39 PM »
Quote
Richards told the Express that he was not being “disrespectful” but “the AG’s office is central to this matter and we reject any call for such a meeting”.

“Our consistent and clear call is for an independent investigation,” he said.

In a  statement issued yesterday, the POA said it was disappointed by Persad-Bissessar’s decision to appoint Ramlogan to a team to address their concerns.

“It is our firm view that this decision will not result in any objective outcome since the Attorney General has reported that a previous investigation done by his office revealed nothing to substantiate the claims made by the former solicitor general.

“Additionally, it does not seem logical to us that it is prudent as it relates to transparency for the parties named by the Prime Minister to undertake such an investigation since to do so will appear that ‘himself is investigating himself’.  That is, each office named by the Prime Minister has a critical role in the process of handling these matters and is being asked to review themselves,” the POA said.

Sense.

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Re: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Thread
« Reply #336 on: May 08, 2014, 05:34:20 AM »

DPP: Cops best suited
Published:
Thursday, May 8, 2014
DARREN BAHAW
 
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Anand Ramlogan
The issue of concocted, exaggerated civil assault cases filed by prisoners seeking unjust compensation from the State is now under a criminal probe. The latest development was announced by Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard, SC, yesterday, even as the Attorney General Anand Ramlogan was ordered by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to revisit his probe into allegations of an “unethical business venture” made by former solicitor general Eleanor Donaldson-Honeywell relating to prisoner abuse litigation.
 
 
Given the announcement of an immediate criminal probe, reliable government sources said last night that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who has been under criticism for twice referring the matter back to Ramlogan for investigation, may find the perfect excuse to scrap her decision and leave the matter in the hands of the police. There has been a chorus of objection against Ramlogan’s involvement in the probe ordered by the Prime Minister, given the role of his ministry in the settlement of cases filed by prisoners.
 
The Opposition had called for his removal from office pending the probe and has threatened to take to the streets in demonstrations if that was not done, while the Prison Officers Association has refused to meet with the team appointed by the PM, which comprised the acting solicitor general Carol Hernandez, chief state solicitor Christophe Grant, Minister of Justice Emmanuel George, Commissioner of Prisons Conrad Barrow, Inspector of Prisons Daniel Khan, if the AG was involved.
 
A hint of the PM’s review of her decision was contained in a statement issued by the AG on Monday which announced the postponement of the meeting of stakeholders following the assassination of Senior Counsel Dana Seetahal on Sunday and the summoning of an emergency meeting of the National Security Council to discuss the matter later that day. “The Honourable Prime Minister will also use this period to give deeper consideration to the concerns expressed by the Prison Officers’ Association,” the release had said.
 
 
Sufficient material
In his press statement yesterday, Gaspard said he was of the view that a police investigation was “the most prudent course” as the Police Service was “the organisation with the resources and investigative experience for such a serious task.” On August 30 last year, Donaldson-Honeywell, who resigned in January, had complained to the PM of breaches of professional ethics by attorneys involved in prison abuse litigation which “may have the effect of perverting the course of justice.”
 
Persad-Bissessar had referred her complaint back to Ramlogan, who said he had investigated the matter and found no evidence to support the allegations Donaldson-Honeywell had recommended that the matter be referred to the Inspector of Prisons, Law Association and the Police Service for investigation.
 
In a three-page statement, Gaspard said that having perused the February 5 ruling of High Court Master Patricia Sobion-Awai in the case of Jamal Sambury vs the State, and supporting court documents, “I am of the unflinching view that there is more than sufficient material contained therein to warrant an investigation into the commission of several offences, including conspiracy to pervert the course of public justice and conspiracy to defraud the State of Trinidad and Tobago.”
 
He pointed out that “in terms of the acceptance of any investigative findings, both in the courts of justice as well as the court of public opinion, such a course prevents any unfair allegation of bias being made about the Office of (the) Attorney General or the incumbent (Ramlogan) and ensures that any police investigation is not in any way contaminated.”
 
 
Cut and paste info
Sobion-Awai had made findings in the case of Sambury, a prisoner who claimed to have been beaten by police officers at the holding cell of the Princes Town Magistrates Court in October 2010, including false medical claims not supported by evidence. While the State accepted liability in his case, it disputed the gravity of injuries the prisoner claimed he sustained.
 
Sobion-Awai also raised concerns regarding the wholesale “cut and paste” of information in Sambury’s witness statement from a separate matter involving another prisoner, Jamal Fortune, which were intended to “mislead the court.” “To my mind, it was implausible that two persons could experience separate events involving different persons in such an identical manner,” Sobion-Awai stated. The assessment of what Sambury is entitled to comes up for hearing on May 21.
 
 
Bring on probe
Both Ramlogan and attorney Gerald Ramdeen, the lead advocate in the Sambury case, last night said they welcomed the criminal investigation and hoped for a speedy resolution. Speaking by telephone, Ramlogan said: “I welcome any investigation by anyone, anywhere, anytime into this or any other case so that the public can be reassured that the legal business of the State is being conducted with the utmost independence and integrity.
 
“It is my hope there will be a swift investigation into this matter because it does not bode well for public confidence in the administration of justice.” Ramlogan said in the Sambury case, the lawyers from the solicitor general and chief state solicitor department would have to defend, justify and explain the position they adopted in the matter and “therefore this investigation can only lead to a vindication of my ministry.” Ramdeen, in a separate telephone interview, said he was “confident that in the end my name will be cleared.
 
“I welcome the intervention of the DPP in this matter to finally bring a resolution to all the questions that have been asked,” he added.
News
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Offline zuluwarrior

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Re: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Thread
« Reply #337 on: May 11, 2014, 01:17:39 PM »
Former attorneys general on prison scandal: No support from Dana for AG
Published:
Sunday, May 11, 2014
RENUKA SINGH
 
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Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, SC
Three former attorneys general picked apart slain state prosecutor Dana Seetahal’s last article “Investigate what, exactly?’ published in the May 4 Sunday Express and have found no evidence of support for current Attorney General Anand Ramlogan in the present controversy over the solicitor general and the prison litigation issue.
 
 
In the hours after Seetahal’s murder, Ramlogan said the country had lost a “titan” and made reference to her last article, saying that she was one of the few people who provided support for him in this matter. “I have lost a dear friend and colleague. Our last conversation was about her column in yesterday’s Express. It provided support for me,” Ramlogan stated in his letter then. He had said Seetahal not only came to his defence but also supported his position.
 
But three former AGs—Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, SC, John Jeremie, SC, and Bridgid Annisette-George spoke with the Sunday Guardian in the days after Seetahal’s assassination and all three found that Seetahal’s widely-read article did not support Ramlogan as he interpreted.
 
 
Maharaj: It’s no defence
Maharaj said Seetahal’s column “cannot properly be put forward by the Attorney General as a defence to the allegations.”
 
“Dana Seetahal stated that the Solicitor General referred to the conduct of certain attorneys who were acting for certain prisoners and those investigations against those lawyers were to be conducted by the Disciplinary Committee of the Law Association. Seetahal also referred to the allegations in the Solicitor General’s letter which referred to certain key office holders who allegedly increasingly took action to support the business of prisoners’ litigation against the State for the direct or indirect financial gain,” Maharaj said.
 
He said taking Seetahal’s points into consideration, the question that should follow was who the Solicitor General was referring to when she said “certain key office holders?” “She was certainly not referring to the certain private lawyers who appeared for certain prisoners against the State. That is why there is need for a fair, independent and impartial investigation to identify the individuals,” he said.
 
“She was asking the Prime Minister in the last paragraph of her letter to cause an investigation in the matter by the Inspector of Prisons, the Law Association and the Police Service,” he said. Maharaj said if office holders of the State were supporting the alleged business of certain private lawyers in the prison litigation for direct or indirect financial gain “that could amount to corruption and of perverting the course of public justice which are criminal offences.”
 
 
Jeremie, SC, agrees
Former People’s National Movement (PNM) AG, John Jeremie also added his voice to the matter. “Unfortunately even after the most careful study, I am unable to find any expression of ‘support’ in the said column for the Honourable Attorney General (as he put it) in terms of the ‘present dispute’ involving the prison service litigation in the column,” Jeremie said. Jeremie said there were queries raised in the column as to whether the Solicitor General should simply have reported the matter to the Prime Minister.
 
“Miss Seetahal suggested that the police and the Law Association might have been better placed to treat with aspects of the investigation. There is not stated anywhere in the column support for the Honourable Attorney General in this matter,” he added.
 
 
Annisette-George: Important piece of information missing
Annisette-George said Seetahal’s last article could be interpreted in two ways— neither of which showed support for the Attorney General. In an email response to the Sunday Guardian, she said, “One interpretation could be a challenge to credibility and another very valid interpretation could, in our very Trini way, be saying that she dare not!”
 
Annisette-George said the article made some readers ponder why the Solicitor General would bypass her immediate supervisor—the Honourable Attorney General—and complain to his boss—the Honourable Prime Minister and still find it necessary to use such “cautious and covert language.”
 
“The shelter which the Honourable Attorney General found in the article is certainly subject to interpretation, and that is why an independent investigation is necessary to settle all interpretations and de-shroud all of the facts after full and frank disclosure is made” she said. Annisette-George said Ramlogan has neither admitted or denied in public whether any of the Solicitor General complaints were ever brought to his attention before she turned to the Prime Minister.
 
“To me that is an important piece of information missing from the factual matrix,” she said. “It escapes me to understand how the Honourable Attorney General could take refuge in the said article. The article has never said that there was no justification for an investigation.” she said. It could be that the author was “advancing that the Law Association was the only and the proper authority to undertake an independent investigation of the complaints of the then Solicitor General,” Annisette-George added.
 
“The article highlights the covert language of the letter of the SG and  ends with a very poignant question: If there is evidence of an unethical business venture engaged in by attorneys-at-law acting for prisoners or key office holders taking action to support the unethical business for financial gain, why has she not referred to it?”
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Offline weary1969

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Re: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Thread
« Reply #338 on: May 12, 2014, 07:44:34 AM »
‘Stolen’ Range Rover still stuck in T&T
By Denyse Renne denyse.renne@trinidadexpress.com


Six months after announcing on a political platform his intention to return a “stolen” Range Rover to its rightful owner, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan is yet to do so.
In an e-mailed response to the Express, the Attorney General said, following the death of Karl Hudson-Phillips QC, “I do not know which attorney from his firm has assumed conduct of this case which he was actively pursuing”.

The story of the allegedly “stolen” vehicle, which was purchased by deputy leader of the Independent Liberal Party (ILP) Anna Deonarine, made headlines during last year’s local government election.
Checks by the Express have revealed that the vehicle— licensed PCM 1100 —remains parked at the Mangra Trace police compound in Aranjuez, where it has been impounded for the past two years.
The black Range Rover, which was at the centre of controversy, was reported stolen from Lombard Vehicle Management in the United Kingdom between May 2008 and December 2008. The vehicle, which was repainted white, was then bought by Deonarine.

The issue was raised by Ramlogan, who said then St Joseph candidate and Crime Watch host Ian Alleyne had brought to his attention various discrepancies following the purchase of the vehicle.
When the Express contacted Deonarine over the weekend she directed queries to her attorney Keith Scotland.

Contacted, Scotland said: “As of today (Saturday) I have met with my client and we have gotten correspondence from the Police Complaints Authority following checks with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) that there was no criminal culpability relative to my client.”
Scotland said the next course of action will include verifying whether or not there is official documentation “that this vehicle was stolen and, if not, what power is the State using in keeping the vehicle”.

He said Deonarine is anxious for closure.
“We have done our own checks on the vehicle and nothing untoward has happened. We will be writing to the State (Solicitor General’s Department) in an attempt to get documentation,” he said.
The Express also understands that letters have already been dispatched to Customs and Excise. Though the letters have been acknowledged, the requested documentation is yet to be provided.
Alleyne at the time had produced an original police file bearing documentation pertaining to the investigation.

When the Express contacted acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams last October as to how a police file was brandished on a political platform by a civilian, Williams said, “Now is election time, I will comment after.”

To date, he is yet to comment, despite being asked on numerous occasions.
Local attorney Jessica Maicoo was retained by Barry Hancock of BR International Ltd, who was acting on behalf of Lombard Vehicle Management (LVM), the legal owner of the vehicle.
Maicoo wrote to Attorney General Ramlogan on October 17, 2013, requesting that Range Rover Diesel Sport Estate 2.7 TDV6 S five-door automatic vehicle, locally licensed as PCM 1100 and bearing the Chassis/Frame N SALLSAA138A179106, be returned.
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Offline AB.Trini

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Re: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Thread
« Reply #339 on: May 16, 2014, 10:08:16 PM »
Stuck yeah right - is Trinis that eh going noway- yuh know in time like everything else people go fuh get about that and they go jump and wave and put they hand in the air drink ah rum nd whine down the place and be the happiest people in the Caribbean cause  nobody eh taking them things on - on to the next thing shame shame that we doh keep on to these people and demand accountability

Offline Flex

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Re: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Thread
« Reply #340 on: May 21, 2014, 01:59:16 AM »
Fixin T&T calls for AG to be fired
T&T Express Reports.


Fixin’ T&T yesterday said the justice system in Trinidad and Tobago was being undermined by Prime Minister  Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s reluctance to fire Attorney General Anand Ramlogan SC as a result of the Jamal Sambury issue. 

In a press release yesterday Fixin’ T&T said, “Contrary to assertions by Mr Ramlogan that ‘no allegations have been made against the Attorney General’ in the ‘prisongate’ matter, the actions, decisions and language of former solicitor general (SG) Eleanor Donaldson-Honeywell SC, Master Patricia Sobion-Awai, Mr Justice of Appeal Allan Mendonca, the Prison Officers Association and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard SC suggest otherwise.

he fact that the DPP has ordered a criminal investigation after the AG allegedly conducted an enquiry which found no wrongdoing is deeply troubling.” 

Fixin’ T&T said it maintained that the firing of  Ramlogan was overdue. 

“He must be fired immediately and not reassigned,” Fixin’ T&T said. 

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

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AG can’t wash hands of Section 34
« Reply #341 on: May 22, 2014, 12:07:35 PM »
AG can’t wash hands of Section 34
By Andre Bagoo Thursday, May 22 2014 (T&T Newsday)

ATTORNEY General Anand Ramlogan cannot avoid holding ultimate responsibility for the Section 34 fiasco given his role as overall legal adviser to Cabinet and should be fired, David Abdulah, the political leader of the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) — a former coalition partner — said yesterday.


In a media statement issued one day after sacked Justice Minister Herbert Volney publicly stated he was solely responsible for the insertion of a clause in a bill which effectively imposed a time- limit on ongoing criminal proceedings involving persons on charges of State fraud and corruption, the MSJ stated Volney’s own about-turn on the issue does not address the ultimate responsibility of the Attorney General.

The MSJ said the Attorney General remained responsible for advising Cabinet on the early proclamation of the specific section, the section’s insertion as well as simultaneous court proceedings which had implications for any local proceedings of persons on charges of corruption.

“The MSJ states categorically that the Attorney General cannot wash his hands of the Section 34 issue,” Abdulah said. “As far as we are concerned the statement by former Justice Minister Herbert Volney was simply about a settlement between Mr Volney and Mr Ramlogan with respect to a private civil action of defamation. It does not address the issue of the Attorney General’s responsibility as the legal adviser to the Cabinet.”

Abdulah continued, “As far as the MSJ is concerned, nothing has been said by either Mr Volney or Mr Ramlogan to change our position. Mr Volney, as line Minister, was responsible for the Bill being brought to Parliament, for the amendments to Section 34; the deficient Schedule 6; and the Note to Cabinet to have Section 34 selectively proclaimed.”

“In this specific instance, it is well known that the selective and surreptitious proclamation of Section 34 of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings)Act of 2011 had the effect of giving certain persons....a virtual get out of jail card,” Abdulah said.

However, “the Attorney General by deciding not to appeal Justice (Ronnie) Boodoosingh’s judgment knowing full well...the implications of that and Section 34 would be a get out of jail card for... and subsequently not seeking to plug the loophole by amending Schedule 6 and/or advising the Cabinet not to have Section 34 proclaimed, is culpable of at minimum dereliction of duty and should be removed from the Cabinet.”

Abdulah outlined the time-line of the events involving passage of Section 34 and the Act as well as the overlapping court proceedings which concerned whether certain persons should face trial locally or be extradited.

“Within the same time-frame as the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Bill, 2011, was being debated on three occasions in the Parliament, and in which debates the Attorney General was present and participated, the AG was also actively engaged in the consideration of the appeal of Justice Boodoosingh’s judgment,” the MSJ leader said. Abdulah said the Attorney General had a constitutional role.

Abdulah said, “The fact that the AG decided not to appeal whilst being fully aware of the provisions of Section 34 and the deficient Schedule 6 suggests that either he demonstrated total dereliction of duty or worse. Either way, the AG is culpable for this very serious crisis.” The MSJ leader also said the Attorney General could have pursued other avenues.

“Assuming that the AG decided not to appeal, there were still other avenues open to the AG to guarantee a trial. He could have gone to Parliament to amend either Section 34 or Schedule 6 before it was proclaimed. The AG had all of eight months so to do but took no action in this regard,” Abdulah said.
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Offline Flex

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Re: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Thread
« Reply #342 on: August 19, 2014, 01:54:36 AM »
Integrity Commission wins legal battle to have internet giant provide info on three accounts
By Kejan Haynes (Express).


GOOGLE MUST GIVE up E-MAILS

The Integrity Commission has won its legal battle to have Google Inc provide information on three e-mail accounts, believed to be connected to Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, as part of its investigation into Emailgate.

A judgment handed down by the United States District Court has stated the Integrity Commission’s subpoena to Google Inc in connection with its Emailgate probe has met “both statutory requirements and discretionary factors”.

The judgment was handed down by US District Judge William Orrick of the Northern District of California Court on August 14.

“On August 11, 2014 the Integrity Commission of Trinidad and Tobago requested the court’s assistance under 28 U.S.C. 1782 in issuing a subpoena to Google Inc,” the Order granting the subpoena application stated.

“The subpoena seeks information for the e-mail accounts “anand@gmail.com”, “anand@tstt.net.tt” and “kamlapb1@gmail.com” which the Commission represents is relevant to a criminal investigation into possible governmental corruption.

“Because the application meets both the statutory requirements and discretionary factors I must consider in deciding whether to grant it, the application is granted,” the order stated.

According to a footnote in the court document, Google says the e-mail address anan@gmail.com does not exist but the Integrity Commission said in its motion it believed the address was incorrectly copied so it is asking any information pertaining to anand@ gmail.com to be preserved.

In his ruling, Orrick says he granted the subpoena for several reasons:

1) Google itself is not the subject of the case and since it’s out of the jurisdiction of Trinidad and Tobago law enforcement, any evidence will be unobtainable without Google’s help.

2) There is no evidence the request is an attempt to circumvent foreign proof-gathering restrictions or any country’s policies.

3) It’s not “intrusive or burdensome.” It’s only a request for information concerning three accounts and an affidavit to authenticate...and according to the document, one of the owners, Anand Ramlogan, has given consent to search his TSTT account which is operated by Google.

Ramlogan has denied having a gmail account and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has never confirmed if the gmail account belongs to her.

Google now has the right to modify or quash the subpoena within 14 days. If it does that, the Integrity Commission will then have another 14 days to appeal.

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Re: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Thread
« Reply #343 on: August 24, 2014, 08:50:26 PM »
AG: E-MAILS ARE FAKE
Google shoots down ‘Emailgate’: Ramlogan plans to sue Rowley


By Joel Julien joel.julien@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: Aug 24, 2014 at 10:13 PM ECT

ATTORNEYS representing Attorney General Anand Ramlogan yesterday produced a certified affidavit from Google Inc which they claim invalidates the entire emailgate scandal. They now intend to find the conspirators who were responsible for the “diabolical, evil and wicked plot” aimed at destroying the Government.
Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley is to be sued for his role in the fiasco.

On May 20 last year, Rowley presented a series of purported e-mails to the Parliament which, he said, implicated the Prime Minister, Attorney General and Local Government Minister in “high crime”, “misbehaviour of public office” and a massive cover-up. Rowley quoted from a series of e-mails between e-mail accounts anan@gmail.com, anand@tstt.net.tt and kamlapb1@gmail.com, believed to be belonging to Ramlogan and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, respectively.

Ramlogan yesterday presented a certified affidavit signed by Chi Nguyen, the custodian of records at Google Inc, which stated “a diligent search and reasonable inquiry of Google’s records produced no information regarding the e-mail anan@gmail.com”. Paragraphs seven and eight of Nguyen’s affidavit stated “anand@tstt.net.tt” and “kamlapb1@gmail.com” were both active accounts owned by Ramlogan and Persad-Bissessar, respectively.

Ramlogan said Google provided all the e-mails between himself and Persad-Bissessar during September 2012 when the emailgate correspondence occurred. He said none of those e-mails sent by Google corresponded to the claims made by Rowley. Ramlogan held a news conference at Cabildo Chambers, St Vincent Street, Port of Spain, to present the documents to the media.

Senior counsel Pamela Elder sat alongside Ramlogan.
Christopher Sargent, a partner at ComputerLaw Group LLP, was present through Skype technology. Elder said the e-mails provided by Rowley were forged. “In essence, those documents which were stated to be e-mails and which were moved between certain accounts belonging to the honourable Attorney General and the honourable Prime Minister, they do not exist,” Elder said.

Sargent filed a Notice of Pendency of Other Action or Proceeding at the United State District Court in the Northern District of California.
This was aimed at showing the application filed recently by the Integrity Commission during its investigation into the emailgate scandal was unnecessary. “(This was intended) to bring this matter to the attention of the judge because to avoid multiplicity of proceedings. If Google has already conducted a search then it is an exercise in futility for another search of a similar nature to be conducted,” Elder said.

“The authorisation granted to the Integrity Commission is the same one we secured from the court on behalf of the honourable Attorney General well over a year ago,” Sargent said. Elder said since last year attorneys representing Ramlogan had started legal proceedings to obtain the necessary information from Google. “We could not sit by quietly and twiddle and fiddle or wait while the Integrity Commission twiddled and fiddled with thumb and pen. We had to explore all legal avenues in order to substantiate all we had been saying from day one—that this was a diabolical, evil and wicked plot,” Elder said.
Elder described yesterday as “a day of revelation”.

“Today I must say I bring to mind... what comes to mind is the words... that we waited patiently and expectantly and our cry has been answered. The essence of those documents, the essence, the meat of it, is that those documents which were passed off, which were laid in the House by the honourable Leader of the Opposition, they are not authentic. Not are they only not authentic, they did not emanate from the e-mail account of the honourable Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and the honourable Attorney General,” Elder said.

“We have reached at a position now that you have from Google that those documents which were passed off as e-mails do not exist. Where do we go from here? Well I know what I will be doing, I would be immediately writing the acting Commissioner of Police, the Integrity Commission, the Director of Public Prosecutions to do all that is necessary to unearth the co-conspirators to this evil plot. We do not know who they are, but what we know today is that there is a conspiracy of the most vicious nature, so those miscreants to whom the word honour has no meaning, they have to be unearthed and that is the position I take today.”

Elder said she was awaiting a response from Rowley, who is out of the country. She slammed those who questioned why Ramlogan had not indicated before he had initiated proceedings against Google.
“The Attorney General is represented by counsel and I advised the honourable Attorney General... and when one is dealing with persons, co-conspirators with these tendencies, one has to proceed with the utmost caution because we do not know who they are, we do not know the offices they occupy, we do not know their associates, so we proceeded with all the necessary caution. And today is a day of revelation,” Elder said.

Among the e-mail addresses the Integrity Commission has asked Google to check is “anand@gmail.com”. This address was not part of the e-mail thread read out by Rowley in Parliament. Elder slammed the Integrity Commission for including that e-mail account. “The Integrity Commission is it going off on a frolic of its own. Their investigation is limited to investigating these documents that were presented in the House,” she said.


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Re: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Thread
« Reply #344 on: August 24, 2014, 08:51:42 PM »
AG’s disclosures ‘a charade’
By Leah Sorias
Story Created: Aug 24, 2014 at 10:02 PM ECT
Express

People’s National Movement (PNM) public relations officer Faris Al-Rawi described the Attorney General’s news conference yesterday as a distraction from the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, which is set for debate in the Senate tomorrow. Speaking at a news conference at his St Vincent Street, Port of Spain, office last evening, Al-Rawi urged the nation “not to be fooled by Government’s charade”.

“I am confident that the Attorney General did not get this information on Sunday. It is therefore curious that he should choose on a Sunday evening to make these disclosures when the Constitution (Amendment) Bill is on Tuesday,” he told reporters Al-Rawi said as far as the PNM is aware, the investigation into the emailgate matter is still ongoing. He urged the Police Service and the Integrity Commission, who are pro­bing it, to respond to Ramlogan’s claims.
“This matter is something which is still pending.

We do not accept the Attorney General’s version, as an interested third party, as to what has happened in this matter.” He said the revelation by Ramlogan yesterday proved PNM Political Leader Dr Keith Rowley was right to call for an investigation. He went on to note that, according to the document Ramlogan gave to the media yesterday, Google checked the e-mails which were sent between September 1 and 30, 2012.

He said the public is unaware whether e-mails could have been sent prior or subsequent to this period. “So the Attorney General’s request for disclosure in the limited period of September 1 to 30 from Google and the affidavit and disclosure from Google, coming as they are, are tailor-made to what he asked them to look for,” Al-Rawi said.


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Re: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Thread
« Reply #345 on: August 24, 2014, 08:52:44 PM »
A trying time for me, says Ramlogan
By Joel Julien
Story Created: Aug 24, 2014 at 10:03 PM ECT
Express


“I CAN breathe a sigh of relief because this has been a very trying time for me personally.” So said Attorney General Anand Ramlogan as his attorneys yesterday produced a certified affidavit from Google Inc, which they claim invalidates the entire emailgate scandal.
Ramlogan said the situation was difficult for him because he had never been accused of criminal wrongdoing before.

“It is the first time that I have been accused of such... of any criminal wrongdoing in my lifetime, and the nature of the crimes that were alleged to have occurred including attempting to...conspiring with the Prime Minister to attempt to murder a journalist, bugging the DPP’s (Director of Public Prosecutions) office to spy on the DPP, open corruption speaking about building a helipad and passing this in e-mails between the Prime Minister and myself,” Ramlogan said.

“These things don’t affect you personally alone, it affects the office that you hold and the international image and the reputation of the country that you love so dearly, because if those allegations had merit, could you imagine what the outside world looking in would have thought about the Government and us as a country? This was a conspiracy to bring the Government down by using parliamentary privilege to hatch a sinister plot to bring down the Government.”

Ramlogan said he had to spend a significant portion of time trying to disprove his guilt. “We have been put in the unenviable and invidious position of having to disprove our guilt rather than to prove our innocence. And given the way the Internet operates, one would obviously have been so nervous and anxious about this matter because you know you worried about—did anyone hack into your account and put something there?

“Would Google cooperate? Would the lawsuit succeed? And I mean this has taken me a year and a half with the support of the Prime Minister and Miss (Pamela) Elder as my local attorney, and in that year and a half it has been an intense legal battle with Google. They did not give a single inch or quarter. We had to fight them every single step of the way because at first they said they really don’t care about Trinidad and Tobago and they have tens of millions of subscribers all over the world and why would they... why should they concern themselves with a simple request from us?”

Ramlogan said he intends to sue Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley for defamation of charact­er. “It’s been a long journey with a cloud of suspicion unnecessarily lurking and hanging over my head, but I am very happy that this revelation and vindication has come because we have been, from day one, very confident that this day will come,” Ramlogan said. Ramlogan said he would not rest until justice is served.


Offline Sando prince

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Re: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Thread
« Reply #346 on: August 24, 2014, 11:23:27 PM »
As far as I am concerned I have not yet heard the final report from the Integrity Commission. I am not interested in an affidavit from Google the AG is presenting two days before the debate on the Constitution Reform Bill in the Senate.

AG’s disclosures ‘a charade’
By Leah Sorias
Story Created: Aug 24, 2014 at 10:02 PM ECT
Express

People’s National Movement (PNM) public relations officer Faris Al-Rawi described the Attorney General’s news conference yesterday as a distraction from the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, which is set for debate in the Senate tomorrow. Speaking at a news conference at his St Vincent Street, Port of Spain, office last evening, Al-Rawi urged the nation “not to be fooled by Government’s charade”.

“I am confident that the Attorney General did not get this information on Sunday. It is therefore curious that he should choose on a Sunday evening to make these disclosures when the Constitution (Amendment) Bill is on Tuesday,” he told reporters Al-Rawi said as far as the PNM is aware, the investigation into the emailgate matter is still ongoing. He urged the Police Service and the Integrity Commission, who are pro­bing it, to respond to Ramlogan’s claims.
“This matter is something which is still pending.


We do not accept the Attorney General’s version, as an interested third party, as to what has happened in this matter.” He said the revelation by Ramlogan yesterday proved PNM Political Leader Dr Keith Rowley was right to call for an investigation. He went on to note that, according to the document Ramlogan gave to the media yesterday, Google checked the e-mails which were sent between September 1 and 30, 2012.

He said the public is unaware whether e-mails could have been sent prior or subsequent to this period. “So the Attorney General’s request for disclosure in the limited period of September 1 to 30 from Google and the affidavit and disclosure from Google, coming as they are, are tailor-made to what he asked them to look for,” Al-Rawi said.


« Last Edit: August 24, 2014, 11:27:28 PM by Sando prince »

Offline Bourbon

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Re: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Thread
« Reply #347 on: August 25, 2014, 05:43:21 AM »
Smoke and Mirrors.

The attorney known as Anand Ramlogan has a history of knowing and exploiting loopholes. Points to note.


His original request to Google indicated that he queried "anan@gmail.com" existence.....and gave permission to search the records of "anand@tstt.net.tt". However the Integrity Commission is also querying the existence and emails of "anand@gmail.com". Please note that the counsel for Anand Ramlogan is presenting this as an argument:

Quote
Sargent filed a Notice of Pendency of Other Action or Proceeding at the United State District Court in the Northern District of California.
This was aimed at showing the application filed recently by the Integrity Commission during its investigation into the emailgate scandal was unnecessary. “(This was intended) to bring this matter to the attention of the judge because to avoid multiplicity of proceedings. If Google has already conducted a search then it is an exercise in futility for another search of a similar nature to be conducted,” Elder said


Why should this be a concern? Wouldnt the results of the findings by the Integrity Commission who are independent and uninvolved parties in the matter be given prominence and therefore confirm and clear the AG from all doubt? So why file that notice? The intent of the notice is to stop the Integrity Commission from getting the results you already know? Hmmmm....

He also provided emails within the period September 1-30th....and he said that the emails dont exist. Firstly....what assurance can we have from the AG that these are indeed all the emails from that period? In addition...I think the time frame was different based on the events referenced.



This....is going to be interesting.


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Offline Sando prince

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Re: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Thread
« Reply #348 on: August 25, 2014, 08:38:57 AM »
 :D sorry this made my day on FB

« Last Edit: August 25, 2014, 08:44:27 AM by Sando prince »

Offline Sando prince

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Re: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Thread
« Reply #349 on: August 25, 2014, 08:03:04 PM »
 :bs: socafighter I say you would have updated us on this already. I know you quick with the news!

Bourbon you hear this ?  The AG and Kamla want to stop the Integrity Commission from searching their emails. They say the affidavit from Google is enough.  :cursing: 

Quote
In his request to stop the Integrity Commission (IC) from getting any further information on #EmailGate The Attorney Generals California based lawyers have written the IC's legal team on behalf of Mr Ramlogan and the Prime Minister to say that both have now revoked their consent for their private email / communications to be searched by google any further since their inquiry (the one by the AG) is enough to bring the matter to a completes close.

His lawyers point out that there is no reason to investigate the same thing twice and urge the IC to cease and desist with their investigation through the issue of their stop order revoking initial consent. Their lawyers insist that their consent was given some time ago and is now no longer legally applicable given that the entire email affair has been resolved in their clients favour.[/b].

« Last Edit: August 26, 2014, 09:16:36 AM by Sando prince »

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Re: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Thread
« Reply #350 on: August 26, 2014, 01:55:45 AM »
Rowley knocks AG on Emailgate:
By Joel Julien (Express).


HIMSELF TO HIMSELF

OPPOSITION Leader Dr Keith Rowley has descried as “laughable” claims made by Attorney General Anand Ramlogan that the Emailgate scandal is now invalidated.

Rowley, who is currently in London, said he finds it “unacceptable” that Ramlogan would investigate himself and call for independent investigations currently ongoing into the matter to be stopped.

Rowley has also shrugged off threats by Ramlogan to take legal action against him.

The Emailgate scandal started on May 20 last year when Rowley presented a series of purported e-mails to the Parliament which he said implicated Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Works Minister Dr Surujrattan Rambachan and Ramlogan in “high crime”, “misbehaviour in public office” and a massive cover-up.

Rowley quoted from a series of e-mails between e-mail accounts “anan@gmail.com”, “anand@tstt.net.tt” and “kamlapb1@gmail.com” believed to be belonging to Ramlogan and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar respectively.

On Sunday, Ramlogan produced a certified affidavit signed by Chi Nguyen, the custodian of records at Google Inc, which he said invalidated the e-mails read out by Rowley.

On that same day Christopher Sargent, a partner at ComputerLaw Group LLP, filed a “Notice of Pendency of Other Action or Proceeding” blocking the Integrity Commission’s ongoing legal action against Google Inc.

Last week the Integrity Commission won a legal battle to have Google Inc provide information on three e-mail accounts, believed to be connected to Ramlogan and Persad-Bissessar, as part of its investigation into the Emailgate fiasco.

The Integrity Commission’s subpoena was seeking information for the e-mail accounts “anand@gmail.com”, “anand@tstt.net.tt” and “kamlapb1@gmail.com” which the Commission said were relevant to a “criminal investigation into possible governmental corruption”.

The affidavit by Nguyen stated “anand@tstt.net.tt” belongs to Ramlogan and “kamlapb1@gmail.com” belongs to Persad-Bissessar. But the e-mails read out by Rowley did not exist.

During a newss conference at Cabildo Chambers on Sunday, accompanied by Senior Counsel Pamela Elder and Sargent via Skype technology, Ramlogan said the Emailgate scandal has now ended.

Elder said since the e-mail address “anand@gmail.com” was not part of the thread read out by Rowley in Parliament the Integrity Commission would be going on a “frolic of its own” if it were to request information on that account.

The Express yesterday contacted Rowley via telephone to get his comment on the situation.

“This is a very odd situation where the subject of an investigation would have carried out his own investigation and is now telling other investigators that his investigation is the story,” Rowley said.

“I am not interested in the personal and private escapades of the Attorney General, especially when they are secret and self-serving as they are. What I am interested in is the spectacle of the Trinidad and Tobago’s Attorney General, who is supposed to be assisting the State with a very important investigation, and can point to no assistance that his department has given to the police, the DPP (the Director of Public Prosecutions) or any other, the Integrity Commission for that matter, to advance the State’s investigation but can surprise us with the findings which he has paid for, presenting himself and his lawyers to tell us that he, while we were thinking that there was a State investigation taking place, in fact he was investigating himself and he has found himself to be without question to answer,” he said,

Rowley said while it was “unacceptable” for Ramlogan to investigate himself this was the precedent set by Persad-Bissessar.

“This I find quite unacceptable on the part of the Attorney General and it is all in keeping with the Prime Minister’s understanding of these matters of State where in the Prisongate matter when the Solicitor General made certain documentation available to the Prime Minister and she sent it to the Attorney General to investigate himself,” Rowley said.

Rowley said his role in the Emailgate scandal was simply as the voice calling for an independent investigation into information he received.

“In my own case I am saying here these matters came to my attention. I considered them, I came to the conclusion that they required an investigation, I took them to the President, I waited six months, there was no investigation by the Integrity Commission, which incidentally is now pursuing an investigation that I expected in 2012, and I went to Parliament and I asked for an independent investigation into this matter,” Rowley said.

Rowley said he will be returning to the country in a week’s time and would address the matter in more depth then.

The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Bourbon

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Re: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Thread
« Reply #351 on: August 26, 2014, 05:11:21 AM »
As I said before...smoke and mirrors.


Somebody holding on to a bare Jack.
The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today are Christians who acknowledge Jesus ;with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.

Offline weary1969

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Re: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Thread
« Reply #352 on: August 26, 2014, 09:37:30 AM »
As I said before...smoke and mirrors.


Somebody holding on to a bare Jack.

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Today you're the dog, tomorrow you're the hydrant - so be good to others - it comes back!"

Offline Sando prince

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Re: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Thread
« Reply #353 on: August 28, 2014, 11:10:32 PM »
I am disappointed the IC is yet to release a public statement responding to the AG declaring himself innocent and a response to his request for the IC not to search his emails and the PM emails.
« Last Edit: August 28, 2014, 11:12:21 PM by Sando prince »

Offline Bourbon

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Re: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Thread
« Reply #354 on: August 29, 2014, 04:40:57 AM »
The best response is the official response when their answers are obtained. Anything else without that is just contributing to the sideshow.
The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today are Christians who acknowledge Jesus ;with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.

Offline Sando prince

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Re: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Thread
« Reply #355 on: August 29, 2014, 08:32:09 AM »
Bourbon I now have a change in opinion. You are right

Offline Sando prince

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Re: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Thread
« Reply #356 on: September 05, 2014, 02:08:43 PM »

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/pxwOy7IJ2QU" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/pxwOy7IJ2QU</a>

Offline MEP

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Re: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Thread
« Reply #357 on: September 07, 2014, 05:06:35 PM »
Wait why is it Ramlogan and his lawyers presenting an affidavit?
Also aren't his actions obstructive? And why is he in contact with google?
Sorry, I'm asking obvious questions I guess I should expect that with this lying and deceitful gov't
« Last Edit: September 07, 2014, 05:14:40 PM by MEP »

Offline Bourbon

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Re: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Thread
« Reply #358 on: September 07, 2014, 07:45:31 PM »
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/AG-okays-release-of-emails-274237981.html

Quote
Attorney General Anand Ramlogan has consented to e-mail service provider Google Inc releasing all information from his personal e-mail account to the Integrity Commission as the probe into the Emailgate scandal continues.

This was revealed yesterday in a letter bearing Thursday’s date from the US law firm representing Ramlogan, ComputerLaw Group LLP to Timothy Alger, one of the attorneys representing Google Inc.

The letter, sent to the Sunday Express by the AG, outlined several grounds on which it said Ramlogan had a right to challenge the “overboard request” by the Integrity Commission including the release of confidential information related to national security, confidential financial records and spousal communications.


However, it pointed out that Ramlogan did not wish to challenge the subpoena issued to Google from the Integrity Commission seeking the information “so that his good name can be cleared”.


The Integrity Commission had initially issued a subpoena to Google requesting information on e-mails exchanged between the address anand@tstt.net.tt and the following accounts, kamlapb1@gmail.com, captaingarygriffith@hotmail.com and surujrambachan@gmail.com for several dates in the month September 2012.

The alleged e-mails which Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley raised in Parliament in May last year alleging criminal conspiracy related to the Section 34 fiasco by Ramlogan, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Minister of National Security Gary Griffith and Works Minister Surujrattan Rambachan.

The allegations included intention to harm a newspaper reporter.

Last month during a news conference at Cabildo Chambers, St Vincent Street, Port of Spain, Ramlogan said Google provided all the e-mails between himself and Persad-Bissessar during September 2012 when the Emailgate correspondence allegedly occurred. He said none of those e-mails sent by Google corresponded to the claims made by Rowley.

It was following this disclosure by Google that the Integrity Commission forwarded another subpoena to Google requesting additional information relating to the e-mail address anand@tstt.net.tt.


Thursday’s letter to Google by Ramlogan’s attorneys stated: “The subpoena targets an account Mr Ramlogan has used as his primary professional and private email for many years. As such, the subpoena potentially seek attorney-client privileged communication between Mr Ramlogan and his personal attorneys; privileged and financial records or spousal communications; privileged attorney work-product and information that is subject to state secrets or other privacy protections under the laws of Trinidad and Tobago.

Mr Ramlogan is entitled to challenge the subpoena on the grounds that it is overboard, unduly burdensome, harassing, not reasonable calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence in violation of the Electronic Communication Privacy Act, the Stored Communications Act and his applicable privileges. However, Mr Ramlogan has instructed my firm that he does not wish to issue such a challenge to this overboard request from the Integrity Commission, so that his good name can be cleared. My firm has also been instructed to cooperate fully with the Integrity Commission in order to expedite compliance with the subpoena”.


Reached for comment in Florida yesterday, Ramlogan said he had overridden the legal advice of his US attorneys to object to the request.

“I have no desire to frustrate the process but wish to support it to achieve further vindication,” from the “conspiracy” perpetuated by Rowley via emailgate, the AG told the Sunday Express. “I welcome the investigation by the police and the Integrity Commission. There must be no lingering suspicion into these serious and dangerous allegations that have no merit or truth.”

Ramlogan said he was advised the request violated privacy laws but he had no objection to it because he believed the “truth will set you free”
.


So basically....he saying he have the right to object but not objecting because he want the process to continue. So while the hullabaloo?
The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today are Christians who acknowledge Jesus ;with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.

Offline Bourbon

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Re: Attorney General Anand Ramlogan Thread
« Reply #359 on: January 24, 2015, 10:54:40 PM »
Yuh know...real material for this topic went on in the past few weeks...and we miss the boat. When I get chance I would post them but it requires the right sequencing of the information.

But....take in this.

Quote
AG DUCKS
...mum on whether he asked PCA director to not file witness statement in Section 34 case in exchange for post

By By ANIKA GUMBS CCN Senior Multimedia Investigative Journalist
Story Created: Jan 24, 2015 at 9:31 PM ECT
Story Updated: Jan 24, 2015 at 9:48 PM ECT
Attorney Gene­ral Anand Ramlogan has refused to confirm or deny an allegation that six days before attorney David West was appointed director of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), he asked him to withdraw his witness statement in a defamation lawsuit rela­ting to the failed extradition involving Section 34 applicants Steve Ferguson and Ishwar Galbaransingh in exchange for him being selected for the job.

The defamation lawsuit stemmed from statements Ramlogan claimed Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley made during a news conference on November 8, 2011, relating to Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh’s ruling in which he quashed the Attorney General’s decision to order the extradition of Ferguson and Galbaransingh arising out of the Piarco International Airport enquiry.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has not responded to a text message sent to her by the Sunday Express on Friday for comment on the matter.

A high-ranking Government official, however, told the Sunday Express that upon receiving the text message, Persad-Bissessar expressed “alarm” over the matter and demanded answers.

West is the former head of the Central Authority Unit (CAU) that falls under the purview of the office of the Attorney General.

Ramlogan has not directly answered if it is true he telephoned West and requested his witness statement be withdrawn.

He has neither confirmed nor denied contacting West. And, in an e-mailed response to the Sunday Express at 7.49 p.m. on Friday, Ramlogan wrote: “As you have indicated, Mr West is a witness in a case I have brought against Dr Rowley which is pending before the High Court.

“It would not be proper for me to comment in the circumstances. Suffice it to say, the director of the PCA is selected and appointed by the President in his wisdom and not the Attorney Genera­l.”

The following question was sent to Ramlogan by the Sunday Express: Investigations revealed that on October 31, 2014, you telephoned attorney David West asking him to withdraw his witness statement in relation to extradition matter involving Steve Ferguson and Ish Galbaransingh in exchange for him being selected as director of the PCA. Is this true? If so, why was this done?

But while the questions remain unanswered, Sunday Express investigations have revealed that the AG telephoned West after midday on October 31, 2014.

This call to West was the second call that was registered on his cellphone from Ramlogan on that same day (October 31).

Ramlogan had telephoned West earlier on the morning of October 31, informing him he was tipped to head the PCA following the resig­nation of then director attorney Gillian Lucky, who accepted a judgeship in September last year.

However, at the time the second telephone call was made, the Office of the President had already contacted West on the same day (October 31) scheduling a meeting with him on November 3 regarding his appointment as PCA head.

Section 6 (1) of the PCA Act states the authority is to comprise a director and deputy director to be appointed by the President of T&T on the advice of both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.

The Sunday Express learned both Persad-Bissessar and Rowley had agreed West was the best candidate to head the PCA, and as a result his name was submitted to the President for him to be selected for the post.


West seeks

legal advice


Immediately following the telephone conversation with Ramlogan, West sought legal advice about the request for the witness statement in the defamation matter to be withdrawn, the Sunday Express learned.

West, who was appointed director of the PCA on November 7, however, filed his witness statement at the Hall of Justice on December 19, 2014, a copy of which has been obtained by the Sunday Express.

West’s phone logs show the Attorney General attempted to contact him twice on December 16—three days before the witness statement was filed.

The calls went unanswered.

At the time, West was in Tobago and again sought legal advice.

Contacted on January 22 for comment on the information obtained by the Sunday Express, West said: “The matter is before the court and I cannot comment.”


The West

witness statement


In his witness statement, West details a June 2010 incident surrounding the arrest of Ferguson and Galbaransingh.

An excerpt from West’s witness statement reads: “The application for special leave was dismissed by the Privy Council on June 7, 2010, on the ground that they (Ferguson and Galbaransingh) did not have a right of appeal.

“As was customary, I advised Inspector Williams, who was the complainant in the extradition matter, to arrest Ferguson and Galbaransingh since their bail had now ceased.

“The Government had by then changed, with the claimant being appointed Attorney General in May 2010. I advised the Attorney General of my instruction to Inspector Williams. The Attorney General asked me how I could issue that instruction without telling him; he advised me that only he could make the request to the police.

“He then instructed me to rescind my instruction, which I did. As a result, Ferguson and Galbaransingh were not immediately arrested; this occurred on June 15, 2010, approximately one week after the said decision of the Privy Council.”

West also recalled an instance where attorney Kelvin Ramkissoon who was retained to lead him (West) for the Attorney General in the extradition matter did not object to bail being granted to Ferguson and Galbaransingh.

“To my surprise, at the hearing Ramkissoon again took the novel and different position of neutrality on the issue of bail; he informed the judge (Justice Malcolm Holdip) that we were there to assist the court with the principles of bail.

“I informed Ramkissoon that it was standard practice of the CAU to object to bail; consequent to the discussion which occurred between Ramkissoon and myself, I understood that he was acting on instructions from the Attorney Gene­ral.

“The judge, however, refused bail. After the hearing the Attorney General had a conversation with me and instructed me not to get involved in the Piarco extradition matter again,” West wrote.

West, however, said notwithstanding the instruction, he continued to pay attention and follow the progress of the Piarco extradition matter.

His statement continued: “On or around October 8, 2010, some two and half months after the Privy Council refused special leave to appeal on the habeas corpus application, the Attorney General issued the warrant for the return of Ferguson and Galbaransingh to the United States.

“I also observed, from my reading the daily newspapers around that time that the Attorney General also issued a press release.

“I was surprised at the timing of the press release given that from my said experience with the CAU, the invariable practice has been to issue any such press release after the extradition was completed, not before, that is to say after the fugitive had been removed from the jurisdiction of T&T.”

On Ramlogan’s decision not to appeal Justice Boodoosingh’s ruling, West wrote:

“From my reading of the judge’s decision, I observed that at paragraph 135 of his judgment, the judge stated that the Attorney General had not advanced any evidence to suggest that there existed a settled practice of discontinuing local charges if the fugitive is extradited.

“I am able to say from my said experience of working in the CAU that the DPP has in the past agreed in extradition matters to the discontinuation of local charges so that the extradition could proceed and that evidence of that practice exists among the records of the unit.”


Why Ramlogan

didn’t appeal

Boodoosingh’s ruling


Ramlogan had come under fire from several quarters for his decision not to appeal the ruling.

But he gave reasons for his decision in his 55-page witness statement that has also been obtained by the Sunday Express.

An excerpt from his statement reads: “When the judgment was delivered, I sought and obtained legal advice as to whether I should appeal the decision of the court.

“Based on the advice which I received I did not do so.

“However, my decision in not doing so was not only predicated or guided by the advice which I received. I took into consideration a number of matters and spoke to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on the issue of having Ferguson and Galbaransingh tried in T&T and how soon this could be done.”

He further added: “In fact, I recall meeting with the DPP on two occasions relative to this matter. The first was when I received the representations made by Ferguson and Galbaransingh.

“I also met with him on a second occasion before I decided whether or not to surrender Galbaransingh and Ferguson. I wanted to determine the exact status of the proceedings in the preliminary enquiry.

“After discussions with the DPP, I formed the distinct impression that the outstanding preliminary enquiry was extremely near in completion.”

Ramlogan said in deciding whether to appeal the ruling, he consi­dered his (Boodoosingh’s) judicial declaration the forum for the trial of Ferguson and Galbaransingh was T&T.

The Attorney Gene­ral said judicial statements made by Court of Appeal Judges Wendell Kangaloo and Allan Mendonca were also given consideration.

“I therefore considered that when the indictment of these people is laid by the DPP, there can be a special court (such as the type done for trial of Dole Chadee and others at Chaguaramas in 1996) and that where possible, the Attorney General would assist in facilitating resources for this purpose,” Ramlogan said.


Rowley stands firm


Meanwhile, Rowley is standing firm by his position that Ramlogan had not sought or advanced the public interest in the conduct of the legal proceedings involving Ferguson and Galbaransingh.

In his witness statement, Rowley said his concerns were based on the Attorney General’s legal team representing the interest of the State and his hand­ling and defence of the extradition order.

“I therefore consi­dered it my duty and responsibility as Leader of the Opposition to inform the public what the claimant was required to do as Attorney General in dealing with the extradition of Ferguson and Galbaransingh, and that, as Attorney General he was ultimately accountable for the loss which the State suffered in those legal proceedings because of the way that he had handled the extradition matter,” an excerpt from his witness statement read.
The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today are Christians who acknowledge Jesus ;with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.

 

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