Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley has rubbished a statement by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad- Bissessar that she had been vindicated following a ruling by the London-based Privy Council to dismiss an application challenging the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) (Amendment) Act.
Several people and businesses had gone to the Privy Council, the country’s highest court, claiming that the legislation was unconstitutional because it breached either the principle of the separation of powers, or the principle of the rule of law.
In a statement yesterday, Prime Minister Rowley said that with respect to the recent ruling at the Privy Council, “the simple outcome is that persons who are charged with criminal offences will be made to face a trial, despite all attempts to do otherwise.
The legislation is best known for the controversial Section 34 that critics said was tabled by the Persad-Bissessar Government to ensure that two businessmen, financiers of the then ruling United National Congress (UNC) the biggest partner in the four-member coalition People’s Partnership Government were freed of charges relating to the re-development of the Piarco International Airport.
