Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has not been vindicated by the Integrity Commission’s (IC) termination of its probe into the Emailgate matter, says former attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, SC. Speaking at his San Fernando law chambers yesterday Maharaj said only the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions could clear the Prime Minister.
The IC on Tuesday wrote to Israel Khan, SC, the Prime Minister’s attorney, stating there was “no or insufficient grounds” to continue its investigation into the matter. Subsequent to that, the Office of the Prime Minister sent out a statement, stating it was a major victory for the Prime Minister and she felt vindicated.
However, Maharaj said: “The statements made by the Integrity Commission which have been reported in the media today do not in any way vindicate the Prime Minister as alleged by the Prime Minister. “In order to understand that the Prime Minister is not vindicated, it is important for us to understand clearly that the Office of the DPP under the Constitution of T&T is paramount and is superior in respect to making a decision whether to prosecute anyone or not.
“In other words, whatever the Integrity Commission says or whatever the Police Service says the last word is with office of DPP in respect to criminal prosecution in TT.” Quoting from deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Joan Honore-Paul’s statement on the Emailgate probe, Maharaj said it was clear the Prime Minister, former attorney general Anand Ramlogan or any other ministers of government were cleared.