The Government and people of this country lost one billion dollars because of the ’error’ of a former chief legal officer, who hid an opinion which advised on the laying of a criminal charge against prominent persons.

Attorney General John Jeremie made this revelation in the 2009/2010 Budget debate in the Senate yesterday, as he gave a vigorous defence of the ’common sense provision in the Constitution’ - the Prime Minister’s right to veto certain appointments within the Executive branch of the State, but under the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC).

Jeremie said the chief legal officer, whom he did not name, hid the opinion ’on what authority, I do not know’, during his time as Attorney General. But he had earlier defined as the holders of the chief legal offices, the Solicitor General, the Chief Parliamentary Counsel and the Director of Public Prosecutions pursuant to the Judicial and Legal Services Act.

’It is true that the Chief Legal Officer had complete authority to disregard the opinion. But he commissioned it at State expense, presumably for his guidance, and he hid it, choosing not to consult with the Attorney General on the matter, for reasons best known to himself,’ Jeremie told the Senate.

He said a copy of the opinion had been passed to him recently by its author, a Queen’s Counsel, and he (Jeremie) has relayed it to the present holder of the post.

’That failure to act on the advice... paid for by the Ministry of the Attorney General ... commissioned by that officer in secret, without ... leave of the Attorney General, ... might well have cost the people of this country a billion dollars ... Sufficed to say that the general rule is that wrongdoers left unpunished continue on in their merry way, sometimes with disastrous consequences.

’That is precisely what occurred in this case. And the quantification of the damage and the steps which are now to be pursued are now being worked out frenetically by persons hired at great expense by the State for the purpose.’

Jeremie said he was liaising with the JLSC to ensure that the officers of the CPC, DPP and SG have these offices filled ’with alacrity’.

But he put all prospective applicants for these positions on notice.

’I say for the record: ’Cowards need not apply’. These are pivotal positions.’

Jeremie also launched a frontal attack on Law Association president Martin Daly. He said contrary to the president’s position, he had secured an opinion from Lloyd Barnett which concluded that it was right to criticise Justice Rajendra Narine for his actions (in referring the affidavit alleging that the Prime Minister Patrick Manning made a deal with Abu Bakr for investigation).

’Mr Vice President, I will make these opinions of distinguished counsel available to the House and will write to the Law Association in the hope that they will cease to act in automatic opposition to the Executive,’ he said.