00:01connect with us on facebook at ccn tv6 trinidad and tobago on x using the handle at tv6 tnt on
00:13instagram hashtag tv6 tnt and via our website www.tv6tnt.com the government's controversial
00:24decision to remove former central bank governor dr alvin hilaire from office will not be tested in
00:30court just more months before a high court case was set to begin today the state reached an out
00:37of court settlement with hilaire ending his wrongful dismissal lawsuit against the cabinet
00:41and the attorney general mark basant has this report compiled by express reporter ricky ramdas
00:49a high-profile legal challenge over the dismissal of former central bank governor dr alvin hilaire
00:55has ended in an out-of-court settlement before the start of the case in the port of spain high
00:59court
00:59the matter came up before justice ramus air heinz today with planning economics affairs and development
01:05minister kennedy swarat singh and hilaire both expected to be cross-examined but before proceedings
01:11got underway the state approached hilaire with an offer to settle the case following discussions the
01:16parties reached an agreement on terms described as favorable to the former governor the terms are
01:22subsequently endorsed on council's brief hilaire had sued the cabinet and the attorney general
01:27after the government revoked his appointment as central bank governor on june 24th 2025 he also
01:33challenged the appointment of former finance minister larry hawaii as his replacement and sought
01:38damages for what he claimed were breaches of his constitutional rights in court filings hilaire alleged he
01:45was the victim of an orchestrated plot to force him from office and was seeking nearly 10 million
01:49dollars in compensation his attorneys claimed that on the day of his dismissal minister kennedy swarat
01:55singh met with him and urged him to resign offering compensation for the remainder of his term
02:00hilaire reportedly refused insisted on obtaining legal advice and questioning the illegality of the
02:06proposed arrangement according to his legal team the government later relied on provisions of the central bank
02:11act dealing with misconduct and failure to perform official duties to justify revoking his appointment
02:18the case also examined the government's criticism of hilaire's refusal to allow the auditor general to
02:24audit the central bank's accounts his attorneys maintained that an external auditor had been lawfully
02:29appointed with ministerial approval and that the government's actions were politically motivated
02:35unlawful and in breach of principles of natural justice with today's settlement the closely watched
02:41dispute comes done and without the court ruling on the merits of hilaire's claims mark basant tv6 news
02:48prime minister camilla basal besessa when asked about the settlement said the state is very pleased
02:54with the outcome and tunes in a brief response she noted the legal representative of the former governor of
02:59the central bank and the legal representatives of the state entered into negotiations with respect to
03:05the claim of the claim of the former governor brought against the state miss basal besessa said quote the
03:11parties arrived at an amicable settlement that secured their respective interests the state is very pleased with
03:17the outcome and tombs end quote
