00:00Former government minister and PNM chairman Marvin Gonzalez is facing criticism after burning a high court order during a political
00:08meeting at Balazsay House.
00:10The order served on the PNM last week requires the party to provide financial records and other documents explaining the
00:18source of funding for the reconstruction of its headquarters.
00:22It forms part of an investigation under the Civil Asset Recovery Management and Unexplained Wealth Act.
00:30Police have stressed that the order is an investigative tool and does not amount to our finding of liability or
00:37wrongdoing against the party.
00:39Addressing supporters at a meeting titled In Defense of Our Democracy and Freedom, Gonzalez set fire to what he said
00:47was the court order in a symbolic act of protest.
00:50The move has drawn concern from members of the legal fraternity, like Kyle Tuck-Lansing, head of the Assembly of
00:57Central Legal Practitioners.
01:00Everyone is entitled to freedom of expression and freedom of speech.
01:05And in some jurisdictions, the burning of national flags has been upheld as legitimate expressions of speech and opinion.
01:14But nevertheless, as an officer of the court, he ought to know that the way that you express your disagreement
01:22with a court order is either by appealing it or making an application to set it aside.
01:28Tak-Lansing says publicly burning a court order sends the wrong message and could have legal implications.
01:36The burning of a court order seems to be expressing contempt of a court instrument, which may very well be
01:44construed as contempt of court.
01:46Now, that may be a legal question to be decided.
01:50He also questioned the example being set by a senior political figure and practicing attorney.
01:56I think as a leader or someone who purports to be a leader, he should have found a more responsible
02:02way of expressing himself, particularly when it comes to expressing himself to the public and where it may involve the
02:11public's confidence in the court.
02:13While acknowledging that lawyers are often called upon to defend unpopular or controversial views, Tak-Lansing believes the demonstration crossed
02:23the line.
02:23While he might be entitled to freedom of expression and speech and while, as lawyers, we have to defend even
02:30controversial views, I do think he was irresponsible in the burning of the court order.
02:36And I hope and I trust and I call upon him to pull back from such actions.
02:41The unexplained wealth order remains in force and requires the PNM to provide financial and related records as investigators examine
02:50the funding of the multi-million dollar refurbishment of Balazsay House.
02:54The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service has maintained that the preliminary unexplained wealth order is an interim investigative measure and
03:03should not be interpreted as a final determination of wrongdoing.
03:07Ravishita Wari, Rupnarein, TV6 News.
03:11Ravishita Wari, Rupnarein, TV6 News.
03:11Ravishita Wari, Rupnarein, TV6 News.
03:11Ravishita Wari, Rupnarein, TV6 News.
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