Attorney General Anand Ramlogan has written to Port-of-Spain mayor Louis Lee Sing, demanding that the "illegal" wrecking service and fee payment be stopped. Earlier this year, Lee Sing said vehicles illegally parked in the city would be impounded and a $1,300 fee would have to be paid by owners to recover their vehicles. This measure has been severely criticised by many people, including Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner. Ramlogan said his letter contained a legal advice from the Solicitor General. He said he hoped "the mayor will follow that instruction and advice because he (his actions) will expose the State to risk of liability from people who may sue us."
Ramlogan stressed during yesterday's post-Cabinet news conference that Lee Sing's illegal measure "should come to an end" before Carnival because it had caused a great social disruption. Ramlogan said the letter was sent either late last week or early this week. He said if Lee Sing failed to heed the advice, "I will have to consider whether a deliberate act of a mayor to impose an illegal directive and act ultra vires the scope of his powers amounts misconduct in public office." He said it would also have to be determined if Lee Sing did not stop the exercise, whether other options for resolving it should be pursued. The AG said the Solicitor General's advice was that Lee Sing's initiative was illegal.