Trinidad and Tobago: Opposition leader of United National Congress Kamla Persad Bissessar again lambasted the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) and stated that PNM’s former general secretary Ashton Ford and other party members are set to receive a multi-million-dollar payout because the Office of the Attorney General failed to defend the State in the courts.
Speaking at the United National Congress (UNC) meeting on Monday night, Persad- Bissessar accused former attorney general Faris Al-Rawi of misbehaviour in public office and dereliction of duty for failing to provide submissions in the matter.
Persad-Bissessar said on the eve of the 2010 general election; jobs were given to certain persons.
She said Ford was appointed as an attaché to the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission in London; Elvin Edwards, former PNM Arima mayor, was appointed as an attaché to the T& T High in Canada; and Andrea Chambers-Wilson, daughter of former prime minister George Chambers, was appointed as the attaché to the United Nations in New York.
Persad-Bissessar said after the People’s Partnership government won the 2010 election, it changed the persons in these positions, which is the convention when any new government takes charge because of a difference in policy and relations with foreign governments.
She said in or around June 2010, the PP government indicated to the three persons that their services were no longer required.
Persad-Bissessar said on June 10, 2014, Ford and the others decided to sue the government for breach of contract, and filed an action in the High Court.
Her government, she said, filed an appearance in the matter, giving notice that the PP government intends to challenge the claim brought by Ford.
Persad-Bissessar said on January 30, 2015, a defence was filed on behalf of the PP government by the Office of the Attorney General.
She said her government had all intention of defending the State from the court matter brought by Ford because they knew they had a good and successful defence against his claim.
She noted the PNM Government took office in 2015, and no defence was presented in this matter by the AG, Al-Rawi.
Persad-Bissessar said no witness statements were filed on behalf of the State and there was no defence.
She said there was a court judgment by Justice R Mohammed in the matter, dated March 18, 2022.
Persad-Bissessar said the judgment, at paragraph six, states that witness statements were filed by the claimants-Ford and Edwards.
‘What is disturbing and alarmingbut not surprising-is that Faris Al-Rawi as Attorney General did not file any witness statements. Not a single witness statement. Another case lost,’ she said.
Persad-Bissessar said the trial was held on May 15, 2019, and the judgment states that the Attorney General’s Office did not appear in the matter and was unrepresented. ‘Therefore, the court had no choice but to accept the evidence of Messrs Ford and Edwards, no matter how faulty it was, and how good our defence was,’ she said.
‘The Government provided no evidence and did not bother to show up to court to cross- examine Mr Ford. That is a total dereliction of duty. That may well be misbehaviour in public office,’ she added.
Persad-Bissessar said because Al-Rawi failed to defend the claim, Ford and others walked out the court with $2.65 million.
She noted that Ford’s attorney is Michael Quamina, attorney and friend of Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.
She questioned whether the judgment will now be appealed.
