00:00Former Attorney General Gavin Nicholas says recent statements from the Office of the Attorney General declaring that no one is
00:08above the law, including the 1% and criminal gangs, have sparked public debate.
00:14With some interpreting the remarks as being directed at a particular section of the population, Nicholas insists the Office of
00:23the Attorney General should never be perceived as pursuing any individual or group.
00:28So when Attorney General gets up in Parliament and speaks to a particular group that they will be targeting, and
00:36then references even further a television clip that makes the group even more specifically identifiable, and then moments later that
00:49group can be seen to be targeted, it doesn't give the best impression for democracy in Trinidad and Tobago.
00:58And I think that sort of behaviour has to be avoided.
01:01Nicholas says the Attorney General's Office must always act in a manner that protects its credibility, remaining impartial while carrying
01:11out its constitutional responsibilities.
01:13I think it is important that we never position ourselves to give the impression that we are using the Office
01:23to go after civilians in the population, and that should be left for the police.
01:43On a separate note, Nicholas also addresses the ongoing CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in St. Lucia, where the reappointment
01:53of the CARICOM Secretary General remains under discussion.
01:56While acknowledging concerns raised by Prime Minister Kamala Passat, he believes aspects of the appointment process still require greater transparency.
02:07There was supposed to be a meeting of the foreign ministers who set an agenda for the main meeting.
02:15At the main meeting, prior to the main meeting, one would expect that if it is that there is any
02:22kind of dissent with regards to who they're appointing, that that is handled in some kind of caucus, one-to
02:29-one level, and sorted out.
02:32So that by the time you get to the main meeting, those decisions are taken without any animosity, even if
02:42it is that there is disagreement.
02:44Nicole M. Romany, TV6 News.
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