Fixin’ T&T: AG must be recused from Warner extradition; Law Assoc should act

Civic watch group, Fixin’ T&T, has expressed grave concern over the failure of Attorney General Garvin Nicholas to deny or explain funds allegedly provided to him by Chaguanas West MP and ex-FIFA vice president Jack Warner, who is fighting extradition to the United States at present.

Fixin’ T&T calls on the Attorney General to “provide unequivocal clarity on the authenticity of a cheque recently published (which was) allegedly paid to you by Mr Jack Warner.”

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago Attorney General Garvin Nicholas.
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago Attorney General Garvin Nicholas.

In that context, Fixin’ T&T has also expressed disappointment in “the deafening silence of the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago (LATT)” on Warner’s assertions.

Fixin’ T&T submitted the following letter to LATT president Reginald Armour SC in response to the issue:

Dear Mr Armour,

FIXIN’ T&T is deeply concerned and disappointed by the deafening silence of the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago (LATT) on recent revelations about funds allegedly received by Attorney General (AG) Garvin Nicholas from Mr. Jack Warner.

As a learned Senior Counsel you along with the Council of the LATT must appreciate the conundrum presented in the extradition matter conducted by the AG, who is the Central Authority, if in fact Mr. Nicholas has or ever had a direct pecuniary relationship with Mr Warner.  We call on the LATT to immediately and publicly state its position on this matter.

Via letter to our AG dated June 15, 2015 (attached for ease of reference) FIXIN’ T&T requested unequivocal clarity on the authenticity of a recently published cheque. To date, Mr Nicholas has neither responded nor denied receiving monies from Mr Warner in the sum of fifteen thousand dollars.

Photo: Chaguanas West MP and ex-FIFA vice president Jack Warner (left) gets a police escort as he arrives in Parliament on 5 June 2015. (Copyright Diego Urdaneta/AFP 2015)
Photo: Chaguanas West MP and ex-FIFA vice president Jack Warner (left) gets a police escort as he arrives in Parliament on 5 June 2015.
(Copyright Diego Urdaneta/AFP 2015)

 

In the absence of an outright denial ideally he should be removed from office or at minimum, from the extradition case involving Mr Warner.

You may be aware that we also wrote to the Acting Commissioner of Police on June 8, 2015 formally requesting that an investigation be launched into, among other things, the source of funding for past political campaigns of the United National Congress and the Peoples Partnership.

This to determine whether, further to the Proceeds of Crime Act, any money laundering laws were breached and if so by whom.

We sincerely hoped that under new leadership the LATT, which in recent years epitomized dereliction of duty, would recognize its purposes as set out in Section 5 Part 2 of the Legal Profession Act.


Your actions, or lack thereof to date, leave us discouraged.  As with your predecessor, we remind you of your organization’s responsibilities:

The purposes of the Law Association as set out in Section 5 of Part 2 of the Legal Profession Act. The purposes of the Association are:-

Photo: A court room gavel.
Photo: A court room gavel.

(a) to maintain and improve the standards of conduct and proficiency of the Legal Profession in Trinidad & Tobago;
(b) to represent and protect the interests of the legal profession in Trinidad & Tobago;
(c) to protect and assist the public in Trinidad and Tobago in all matters relating to the law;
(d) to promote good relations within the profession, between the profession and persons concerned in the administration of justice in Trinidad and Tobago and between the profession and the public generally;
(e) to promote good relations between the profession and professional bodies of the legal profession in other countries and to participate in the activities of any international association of lawyers and to become a member thereof;
(f) to promote, maintain and support the administration of justice and the rule of law.
(g) to do such other things as are incidental or conducive to the achievements of the purposes set out at (a – f)

We look forward to your response and stated position.

Sincerely,

 

Kirk Waithe

Cc:

Mr Stephen Williams – Acting Commissioner of Police

Mr Roger Gaspard – Director of Public Prosecutions

Media

More from Wired868
“Neo-colonialism”, “diabolical”, “justifiable”; TTFA creditors speak out as Hadad tries to hold off football membership

Somewhere between 2006 and 2010, as Trinidad and Tobago’s football stock fell on and off the field—and, as always, the Read more

Defiant Warner suggests 3 more legal rounds, as Privy Council okays extradition of ex-FIFA VP

Trinidad and Tobago is now free to extradite former Fifa vice-president and Chaguanas West MP Jack Warner to face racketeering Read more

Early Bird’s W/C recall: T&T dresses up—Jack Warner, Caligiuri combine to cancel our date…

“1990?” asks Bobby, a rueful look distorting his facial features, “What I remember best about that campaign is Philbert Jones Read more

Court accepts TTFA debt repayment plan, as Warner withdraws case after Fenwick/Miller compromise

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) can finally begin paying off its creditors—under terms agreed in May—after High Court Read more

Court adjourns TTFA repayment hearing, to address payoff claims by Warner, Fenwick and Miller

Verified creditors of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), including former coaches and technical directors like Stephen Hart, Anton Read more

The ‘rebirth of the TTFA’? Or expect more of the same? Daniel, Downer and Walkes share views

The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) must pay off a loan of US$3m (TT$20.1m) over the next 10 years Read more

About Fixin TT

Fixin T&T's mission is the realization of good governance to achieve healthy, holistic, and fulfilling lifestyles for all citizens through the study, promotion, and furtherance of strong democratic institutions; sound infrastructure; integrity in public and corporate affairs; and a culture of respect by all for the laws and regulations of the country to create a safe, secure, efficient and productive Trinidad & Tobago.

Check Also

Noble: Forgetting the past, repeating mistakes—Jack’s return and Jamaica’s NCB mess

There were two disturbing events in a week when the nation needed to be reflective …

12 comments

  1. This whole issue will be moot in two months anyway… The Law Association is simply biding its time.

  2. Do we have a law association still in place?

  3. Another episode of the “Boldfaced & The Corrupt”.

  4. Quak is joke!! He is the quakiest of all!!

  5. in total agreement . hope he has the integrity to do so voluntarily

  6. I love my country .i support your views and call for truth.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.