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The implications of the debacle arising from the Attorney General’s conflict in the Piarco International Airport fraud and corruption case are substantial and potentially far-reaching.
The obvious first matter of concern is the Miami court’s rejection of AG Reginald Armour’s sworn affidavit given “under penalties of perjury”, in which he stated that for “a few years at the start of the preliminary enquiry” he had “worked as a junior lawyer” to the late Allan Alexander, SC, providing legal representation to defendants Brian Kuei Tung and Renee Pierre in a role “limited to minimal legal research and to taking notes”.
Having reviewed the evidence submitted by attorneys for Kuei Tung and Steve Ferguson, the Miami court disagreed strongly enough to disqualify Armour and the US law firm Sequor Law from representing the T&T Government in this matter. It found Armour’s involvement to be more significant than stated in his affidavit, and cited the Florida Rules of Professional Responsibility.
Perhaps time has dimmed Armour’s memory. In April 2003, senior counsel Alexander, and Armour are identified as appearing for Kuei Tung and Renee Pierre in an appeal against a ruling by then-Chief Magistrate Sherman McNicholls. By May 2004, Armour, by then elevated to the status of senior counsel, was publicly identified as a member of Kuei Tung’s three-man legal team for the preliminary hearings in the airport criminal case. One newspaper reported that Armour “grilled” Cpl Joanne Archie of the Anti-Corruption Bureau. These are public records which dispute Armour’s description of his role as a junior lawyer limited to “minimal legal research” and “note taking”.
Armour’s handling of potential conflicts between his prior private practice and current public responsibilities as AG begs the question of whether the potential risks were adequately addressed by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley before inviting Armour to join his Cabinet as AG. There is certainly precedent between them.
In March 2015, within three days of being appointed president of the Law Association, Armour withdrew from all legal matters in which he was representing then-Opposition Leader Dr Rowley on the grounds of “insulating the Council and the Law Association from any charges of partiality against the Association in anything to be done under my leadership”. Having seen the problem as clearly as he did then, it is hard to understand why, in a matter as serious as the airport corruption and fraud case, which has cost taxpayers many millions over the course of 20 years, he did not immediately see the danger of crossing from defence to plaintiff.
Of note is the Miami court’s statement that it was making no findings of misconduct by Sequor Law, whose disqualification was due to Armour’s actions.
Several questions remain to be answered. What will be Sequor Law’s reaction to being disqualified? Will it seek damages from Armour and/or the T&T Government? How will the appointment of a new law firm affect the case in terms of cost and time? Most important of all, what impact will the Miami court’s ruling now have on the State’s substantive case against Kuei Tung, et al?
Numb3r4 wrote:How could you at this level of such a proceedings make such a mistake?
I can't believe that you would just lie like this at this level and the fact that it is a case that you are representing the country internationally.
How could you have no due diligence? Is it a genuine slip-up of the local legal team or did they really try to pull one over the eyes of the US court?
In that case was it really a mistake, sheer incompetence or a deliberate act of deception?
pugboy wrote:boy
becoming a senior counsel is indeed a big deal
essentially the pinnacle of any lawyer climbing the ladder
how a man could forget that and actually say he was a junior is certainly very very suspect
De Dragon wrote:pugboy wrote:boy
becoming a senior counsel is indeed a big deal
essentially the pinnacle of any lawyer climbing the ladder
how a man could forget that and actually say he was a junior is certainly very very suspect
I know the year of every single promotion or upgrade I have ever gotten. This arrogant, unethical, lying, corrupt kant clown seems to have convenient amnesia.
As usual, his muffler bearing boss will come full of bluster and sheit to defend his newest cachole
In looks, not in brain. Los pollos, he be notdogg wrote:Guy reminds me of the Breaking Bad villain
dogg wrote:So who will be next AG?
My bet is on straight mout' Heinz17647585-1-1024x828-g.jpg
RedVEVO wrote:^^
He has an excellent chance of becoming our next Attorney General .
With the name Fitzgerald Ethelbert Hinds how can he not be the next AG .
Kickstart wrote:"Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is insisting that his Attorney General was not disqualified from representing this country in a Miami court"
https://www.guardian.co.tt/news/pm-deni ... 354a1f7d86
The prime minister is higher than a US court judge?
If this Prime Minister can think this way it shows just how corrupt and what dictatorial tendencies he has. One must think how he meddles behinds close doors in this country. It is also a reason why Trinidad must remain with the privy council. This Prime thinks he's greater than a US court.De Dragon wrote:Kickstart wrote:"Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is insisting that his Attorney General was not disqualified from representing this country in a Miami court"
https://www.guardian.co.tt/news/pm-deni ... 354a1f7d86
The prime minister is higher than a US court judge?
He like dem dotish people when dey son kill people or get killed
"he never do nobody nuttin"
"he was ah good boy"
"he used to sell he lil drugs buh he wasn't no gunman"
" Iz envy and jealousy"
"ah want jostiss"
De Dragon wrote:Kickstart wrote:"Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is insisting that his Attorney General was not disqualified from representing this country in a Miami court"
https://www.guardian.co.tt/news/pm-deni ... 354a1f7d86
The prime minister is higher than a US court judge?
He like dem dotish people when dey son kill people or get killed
"he never do nobody nuttin"
"he was ah good boy"
"he used to sell he lil drugs buh he wasn't no gunman"
" Iz envy and jealousy"
"ah want jostiss"
Kickstart wrote:If this Prime Minister can think this way it shows just how corrupt and what dictatorial tendencies he has. One must think how he meddles behinds close doors in this country. It is also a reason why Trinidad must remain with the privy council. This Prime thinks he's greater than a US court.De Dragon wrote:Kickstart wrote:"Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is insisting that his Attorney General was not disqualified from representing this country in a Miami court"
https://www.guardian.co.tt/news/pm-deni ... 354a1f7d86
The prime minister is higher than a US court judge?
He like dem dotish people when dey son kill people or get killed
"he never do nobody nuttin"
"he was ah good boy"
"he used to sell he lil drugs buh he wasn't no gunman"
" Iz envy and jealousy"
"ah want jostiss"
De Dragon wrote:RedVEVO wrote:^^
He has an excellent chance of becoming our next Attorney General .
With the name Fitzgerald Ethelbert Hinds how can he not be the next AG .
Because he's dumber than a bag ah hammers
ProtonPowder wrote:"Yeah you know me boy, I go never vote against you yes. By the way alyuh have any state briefs for me this month?"
Banana RepublicMmoney607 wrote:ProtonPowder wrote:"Yeah you know me boy, I go never vote against you yes. By the way alyuh have any state briefs for me this month?"
It is the code of the Cosa Nostra
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