Attorney General John Jeremie said yesterday he was ’disappointed’ and ’concerned’ about what transpired in the court involving the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT) and the Commission of Enquiry. He was also concerned about the three-month delay of the Commission’s proceedings.

Fifteen hours before the commission’s proceedings were blocked by the court action, Jeremie had given the Parliament an assurance-Thursday afternoon during debate on the Validation and Immunity Bill-that the proceedings of the commission would not be stayed.

Speaking with confidence, the AG responded to questions from Independent Senator Dana Seetahal, saying: ’I met with UDeCOTT’s attorneys yesterday while I was in the House of Representatives for the purpose of ensuring that their claim did not proceed in the matter in which it was crafted against the State, as a direct attack against the State and against certain actions of the President. That was one. And two: in respect of the applications they seek for interim relief, I expressed my view that it was unfair for them to proceed with those claims at this time before the Uff Commission had had a realistic opportunity to be heard in respect of the application for interim relief. So the point is, the proceedings have not been stayed and my understanding is that whatever happens in court tomorrow, UDeCOTT will not seek to stay the proceedings of the commission, at least until such time as Professor Uff...has an opportunity to be heard in respect of the application for bias.’

Asked yesterday if he misled the Parliament on Thursday, Jeremie repeated what he told the Senate about his conversation with UDeCOTT’s lawyers in the Parliament on Wednesday. A reluctant Jeremie stressed: ’My belief was that having made my position clear, that UDeCOTT would pay some attention. I expected that they would follow through on it.’

He added, ’I could not have been clearer.’

Those involved in that meeting were Jeremie, state attorney Michael Quamina, Devesh Maharaj and Andrew Goddard, QC. Quamina last night confirmed Jeremie’s account of that conversation.

Sources said the conversation involved an undertaking that Uff would not submit his report, but that he would continue to do his work, and that UDeCOTT would not seek to stay the proceedings of the commission. This position was put to the court in the form of a letter from Uff yesterday.

But yesterday, contrary to its promise, UDeCOTT sought the stay of the proceedings until the hearing of the substantive matter. A draconian order preventing the commission (and Uff) from engaging in the ’preparation’ of any report was also granted by Justice Mira Dean-Armorer, effectively stopping Uff from doing any work at all. (See other story)

Reminded that he told the Parliament that the Government had a ’solemn duty’ to protect the commission, Jeremie said what he meant was that Government needed to validate the commission and do everything possible to ensure that the commission submits its report.

’That is the duty of the State,’ he said.

Jeremie added, however, that he could not protect the commission against charges of bias or an allegation of bias.

Reminded that the submission of a report has been blocked (for a period of three months), Jeremie said the court is supreme.

Asked whether it was in the public interest to have the commission stayed for three months, Jeremie replied, ’I don’t think so. I think this thing needs to be resolved as quickly as possible one way or the other.’

He said, however, that he understood that UDeCOTT had a right to defend itself.

Asked how the State was able to direct PTSC and TSTT from taking certain action (to decertify the unions) and could not direct UDeCOTT not to take action against the commission, Jeremie replied: ’I think you should direct your questions to the relevant line Ministers.’