The Freedom Chambers

The terse tone in the exchange between AG John Jeremie and former DPP Geoffrey Henderson must be a cause for concern. The nation owes Mr Henderson a huge debt of gratitude. The pressure applied by the AG was intense, and cannot be casually dismissed, because it was being applied in sensitive, high-profile matters involving opposition politicians/supporters.

Last week, I had the opportunity to observe the British system of criminal justice in operation. One of the judges allowed me to sit with him and observe the proceedings. The trial concerned a robbery that was committed six months ago. The trial was concluded in one day and the convicted offender will be sentenced this week.

The victory in the Privy Council for the Maha Sabha, Sat Maharaj, the Islamic Relief Centre and Inshan Ishmael, in the Trinity Cross case, was the culmination of a marathon journey for symbolic and substantial equality. [Site admin note: read the judgment at the end of Anand's commentary]

The president of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, Prof Max Richards, makes a second response on the Integrity Commission fiasco.

Resignation of the Speaker of the House of Commons in the United Kingdom is a timely reminder of why the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy is ill-suited for Trinidad and Tobago.

Freedom Chambers is deeply disappointed to learn that Kevin Baldeosingh has been reportedly dismissed.

None of the problems associated with the present Integrity in Public Life Act (IPLA) have been addressed by the Bill tabled by the Government to amend the IPLA. The amendment is self-serving and designed to undermine, instead of strengthen, integrity in public life.

The response by the President of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago is given below. This is the response to the fiasco  caused by appointments of persons to the Integrity Commission.

The ink was hardly dry on the resignation letter from newly appointed member of the Integrity Commission (IC) retired Justice Zainool Hosein, before an even bigger controversy erupted over the appointment of Jeffrey McFarlane. Mr McFarlane, on the face of it, was not qualified to be appointed as a member of the IC, because he is a person in public life performing a public function.

Full Text of the Privy Council Judgment is viewable below - printable and downloadable. You may wish to cut straight to Page 9 and beyond for the Law Lords opinions on illegality and corruption. [Use the slider bar to magnify text, if necessary]

The Summit of the Americas has, in the past, been nothing more than an expensive talk shop. It reinforced America’s dominance and underscored the Bush administration’s arrogance and lack of diplomatic skills. 

Emile Elias struck a raw nerve and put the Government on the back foot, when he said the cost of hosting the summit had crossed the $1billion mark, and was probably well over $1.2 billion by now. He confirmed what many of us had been suspecting and questioning, in light of the Government’s conspicuous omission regarding the cost of this elaborate international adventure.

I had started a review on the judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal on March 3, in favour of Rajesh Mathura, who was attacked by prisoners in the cell downstairs San Fernando Magistrates’ Court. A prisoner tried to burn him alive by setting fire to his jersey. He was beaten over the head with a piece of iron and his back slashed with a razor blade.

I feel compelled to alert the public to the lax security in most of our shopping malls, because the wife of a good friend, who contested the last general elections for Congress of the People, was almost kidnapped and robbed in daylight, last Saturday. The incident occurred at a popular shopping mall. 

With an unemployment figure of over two million people, a sinking pound, a crumbling property market and crashing banks, I expected some kind of post-war depression when I arrived in London, last week.

The sinister and evil wave of crime that has changed our way of life makes the topic of respect for the human rights of prisoners a delicate and sensitive topic.

Things may get uncomfortable for Finance Minister Karen Tesheira as the extent of her deposits, investments and shareholding in CL Financial and its subsidiaries are revealed. Her shares in CL Financial were worth $11.7 million. She closed two US-dollar accounts with Clico Investment Bank on December 31, 2008, before the maturity date.

It is strange that at a time of such high crime and corruption we have no substantive DPP, Police Commissioner, Solicitor General, Chief Parliamentary Counsel and Integrity Commission. These offices all have an important role in ensuring that the rule of law prevails. Is this by design or sheer coincidence?  

The issue of the veto given to the Prime Minister in the constitution is the subject of debate again. Mr Manning asserts that the framers of our constitution deliberately gave an unconditional veto to the PM and no reasons were required. He could exercise the veto in a vacuum.

Panday’s call for a re-definition of one of our nation’s watchwords that was drummed into my ear in primary school was shocking and amusing.

The scathing criticisms levelled against Clico’s head, Lawrence Duprey, by PM Manning and Finance Minister Nunez-Tesheira echo the criticisms levelled against Harry Harnarine and the Hindu Credit Union.

We are fortunate to live in a country with a constitution that guarantees each and every citizen fundamental human rights that are enshrined and protected. The constitution is the supreme law of the land, and not even Parliament can take away your fundamental rights and freedoms.