The term of the Law Association’s Council (LATT) is ending this week and elections are due next month, Law Association member Attorney Wayne Sturge said yesterday. As such, the body may wait until a new executive is installed to deal with the matter involving Police Complaints Authority (PCA) director David West.
Some LATT members had been concerned about the council’s January release calling for former Attorney General Anand Ramlogan to vacate office while witness-tampering allegations by West were probed by police. After its release, former LATT secretary Donna Prowell had protested the procedure used by the executive to disseminate the release. Prowell criticised the executive for not consulting the membership prior to calling for Ramlogan to step down.
Sturge said at that time he had received the signatures of 25 members, which would have allowed for a special meeting of the council to discuss the matter. However, he had said action would not have been taken until the association's president made a statement. Law Association president Seenath Jairam later stood by the council’s release and was also reported to have said West should recuse himself as PCA head following his claims against the AG.
Jairam reportedly said he, West, should consider stepping aside because of the relationship he shared with the police to avoid any appearance of influence in the outcome of the investigation. There had been reports that a subsequent meeting of the council last week had discussed the West issue, but no position was taken. It remains there, officials say.
Yesterday, Sturge said there was no need for the petition or special meeting on the issue again since the council’s term is ending and elections were due next month. He said concerned members would wait to see what developments occurred.
Meanwhile, People’s National Movement PRO Faris Al-Rawi said there was nothing wrong with President Anthony Carmona’s move to seek a legal opinion on various positions advanced in the Ramlogan/West issue. Carmona took the action after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said West ought to resign or his appointment should be revoked as a result of the matter.
Commenting yesterday, Al-Rawi said: “His Excellency is entitled to do as he sees fit in relation to any matter he may wish to address relevant to the West issue and his appointment as PCA head. “From my point of view, as attorney for Dr Rowley in the civil litigation in which West is a witness of fact, I can see no concern whatever as to West’s retention as PCA head.”
While he trusted that the President would act wisely, Al-Rawi added, “The President is immune from suit but it isn’t that his decisions aren’t reviewable. His Excellency bears considerable judicial experience and strong advocacy and one trusts he will act as he ought to.”