Tuesday February 9th, 2010
- Last update:9 hours 44 min ago
Jeremie: Waste to restart Uff enquiry
Published: 2 Oct 2009
It would be inconceivable and a waste of time and money for the Uff Commission of Enquiry to be started all over again and to rehear evidence, Attorney General John Jeremie said yesterday. “An inquiry was conducted and there is absolutely no reason to repeat the process—it is as simple as that,” Jeremie added yesterday in the Senate as he piloted legislation to validate the commission. Jeremie stated: “The commission has spent a great amount of time to gather evidence and other material relevant to its mandate and a substantial amount of money has been spent from the national purse, and the public awaits a report with perhaps, recommendations for reform from the commission, on the several matters within its terms of reference.”
When asked by UNC Senator Wade Mark to give the cost of the year-long inquiry, Jeremie said he would not know that cost. Jeremie added, “But that is not relevant to the matter that is before us this afternoon—we‘re validating the Commission of Enquiry.” The legislation requiring a special three-fifths majority for passage became critical following Government’s failure to meet a legal requirement to publish a notice of the commission in the Gazette following its appointment on September 2008. Consequently, the commission was suspended in September 2009—the eve of the completion of its task.
Jeremie said Government still does not know why the notice was not published. He said a retired Appeal Court judge was appointed to investigate the situation and a report will be ready “in the very near future.” The AG assured that the bill will not give blanket immunity to the commission from anything that was done to breach the law and did not protect the commission from the judicial review proceedings against the commission. However, the legislation will validate all proceedings from the time the commission was appointed and all evidence of witnesses.
It will also protect the commission and media from legal action in its deliberations of/and reporting on the enquiry respectively. It will further allow evidence collected by the commission to be used in preparation of its report. Jeremie noted that since the commission had not been properly “gazetted” it was not protected by law from legal challenges.
Mr. Jeremie, I do agree that
Mr. Jeremie, I do agree that the Commission of Inquiry should continue and all proceedings and information obtained should remain as is.
NO starting over, please.
However, I disagree with your negative response to Mr. Mark's question re. monies spent. You see Sir, when you referenced "time" and "money" you left the door opened for this pertinent question to be asked.
Would it not have been prudent for you to say that you don't know, but will check and let him know soon. You see someone is keeping tabs on the expenses and have tallies ready and waiting, at least up the the end of the last month. And in this day of computerization and technology this info. could be had at a few minutes notice.
But instead you choose the confrontational route wanting to 'put Mr. Mark in his place'. I would like to see our Sr. Gov't Officials behaving in a manner befitting their station. Good manners can work wonders.
You, Mr. Jeremie, were involved in a very important task, that of piloting Legislation to Validate the Commission. And you should not allow any unnecessary roadblocks to get in the way. This Validation would also protect the Commission and the Media from legal actions.
This UDeCOTT group has gotten way out of control, and continues to put a heavy burden, financial and otherwise, on the people of this nation, one we cannot afford to keep up with as our "national purse" is almost empty.
Jeremie has a Hart?..... Our
Jeremie has a Hart?.....
Our "esteemed" AG shows that he has a big Hart!
But only for his Boss's
But only for his Boss's SWEETHART.
Good Morning Earthlings:
Good Morning Earthlings: -
Have a lovely day.
Smile and the world smiles back at you.
When Eric Williams talked
When Eric Williams talked about "four by four" lawyers, I now see what he meant. This one isn't even a one by one. When you use the word "negative", it's more apt than you intended in reference to the long standing attitude "money is no problem". (But money can be a problem if you don't know how to spend it, especially if you are "never see come see").
The scoundrel of a contractor who was building my house in the 1960s, until I fired him and continued my own supervision, had hired an electrician who was just as much a fraud to do the electrical work. Later some one told me that this chap had come into an inheritance but didn't know the value of money. I was told that he used to roll $20 notes and smoke them (literally money going up in smoke and in those days before the advent of the blue notes, a 20 was worth a lot; it could pay a mason and a carpenter for their day's work). Then when the money ran out, it was back to square one. Reminds you of someone?
Back to the word "negative". Without seeing the full debate, the newspaper might be conveying the wrong impression, starting with the headline. But I get the impression of an atmosphere of negavtivity coming across, as though the AG doesn't have his hart in the matter, he's only going through the motions to appear to be doing something but sounding almost defeatist and deadpan, unlike his customary animated performance. Doesn't augur well.
...it was just a matter of
...it was just a matter of time....JJ the Fixer...is back on the job....
So much for going after
So much for going after "white collar" criminals....ent JJ
The govt is rightly seeking
The govt is rightly seeking to validate the Uff Commission while UDeCOTT , a solely-owned govt cooperation , has employed a lawyer from the UK , to nullify the said commission . Calder Hart and John Jeremie are 2 of Manning's minions yet they have diametrically opposite views on this matter . It is clear to me that "Sweet T&T" has more dollars than sense .
ATW - Barbados .
AG like to play with fire,
AG like to play with fire, good, You shut it down and U over, so no time for a show, you know what we want!
THIS IS DESTINED
THIS IS DESTINED -
To drag on and die a natural death. Jail ent nice is only for opposition politicians. Where are,
1) The Integrity Commission
2) Enquiry into Karen’s conflict of interest.
3) T&TEC Report
4) Biche Report
Ramesh I have named you the
Ramesh I have named you the best legal mind in the Caribbean and this is how you repay your public, oh I stepping down, look the public need to slap you around or what? how you can have the AG dealing with the Law Association and the general public like this, like you do care for we, yo bro let me know, because ryan4party can be the same way. Hart less, lol.
If you riding, ride now, don’t stop, just go. I will help you, we the people giving you one week, where u at.
People of Trinidad and
People of Trinidad and Tobago, Ryan4Party said it before, I will take anyone and make them the PM, Ryan4Party vote for PM is Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Time for the first woman to run things for real, whatever party she choose, UNC or COP, jack where u at, I think the women can bring back our country, the same way they take care of our families, ever a PNM said it “I will be like a house wife”. Anyone want some intelligent debate on this one, you are welcome to bring it.
Ryan4Party4Real.
Who want to second this!
La Diva, Kitty, Gardenia,
La Diva, Kitty, Gardenia, and all other female bloggers, please note, Ryan4Party don’t have any issues with the women running things, I think it will be a good thing; it will help our nation as a whole and not just our political conchants. Now does not mean I will leave out the male bloggers out, guys what you think about my choice. I think I can`t go wrong for 5 years, who take care of you guys from the day you born.