‘Thrown to the wolves’

Former Trinidad and Tobago justice minister Herbert Volney has hit back at Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar, days after he was relieved of his portfolio responsibility.

Speaking today, Mr Volney accused Prime Minister Persad Bissessar of throwing him to the wolves.

The Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister announced on Thursday that Mr Volney was dismissed because he misled the Cabinet into believing that Chief Justice Ivor Archie and Director of Public Prosecution Roger Gaspard supported the idea of an early proclamation of a provision of the Administration of Justice Act.

Last week the government called an emergency session of parliament to repeal the controversial clause which allows a person whose trial has not started after a 10-year period to walk free and a verdict of not guilty.

Critics say that the clause was aimed at supporting businessmen Ish Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson, who have been described as financiers of the ruling United National Congress (UNC), the biggest partner in the four-member coalition People’s Partnership government.