Wednesday, March 19 2008

ATTORNEY GENERAL Bridgid Annisette-George yesterday said there was no need for the Government to investigate public officials named in the report of tribunal formed to probe allegations of misbehaviour in public office by former Chief Justice Satnarine Sharma.

Those persons include Annisette-George’s predecessor John Jeremie and Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls.

Jeremie is being considered to replace Glenda Morean-Phillip as the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom when she becomes the new Ambassador to Washington DC next month.

Responding to a question posed by Opposition Senator Wade Mark in the Senate, the AG reminded senators that President George Maxwell Richards appointed this tribunal which was headed by Lord Michael Mustill to investigate the allegations that were made against Sharma.

She said the President received the tribunal’s report and the Government laid it in the Senate on January 28 and in the House of Representatives on January 30, “in the interest of transparency.”

Annisette-George added that the report is “now in the public domain.”

“The Prime Minister has satisfied fully the obligations placed on him by the Constitution.

There is therefore no further requirement that any further action be taken.”

Asked by Mark whether she was aware of remarks made against some of the officials named in the report, the AG replied: “I know that comments were made with respect to various officials in the report.” Mark then asked Annisette-George whether those comments “warrant an inquiry on the part of the Government.”

At this point, Senate President Danny Montano intervened.

“I think that calls for an opinion and I think the question has been answered.

I think you should move on to the next one,” Montano advised Mark.