The government cannot be unaware of their perilous footing on Section 34. It must be the reason for throwing the numerous distractions at us like dus' in we face to make we close we eye. If that's the case, it's not working!

The customary blustering and blaring in Parliament on Friday and the usual song and dance of "when the other side was in government..." and "...the member for Diego Martin West eh do nuttin when..." is so very old.

Is this Persad-Bissessar-led government trying to tell us that they must be absolved of responsibility because a previous government committed similar egregious acts? I certainly hope not.

The fact is that the secret extraction and understated proclamation of Section 34 of the Indictable Proceedings Act and its "ill-thought-out" hasty repeal is the Sword of Damocles that will bring this government to its knees.

Simply put, the repeal from my lay person's point of view, targeted specific persons preventing them from taking advantage of legislation in force at the time and that is an infringement of their constitutional rights.

Two, excuse me, one highly skilled and experienced in criminal law, ex-judge and ex-minister of justice was so bumbling as to be unaware of this, I don't think so.

Mr Anand Ramlogan, Attorney General and legal adviser to Cabinet/the government, was unaware of the implications of the proclaimed Section 34 and he was out to lunch, excuse me, on vacation when this fiasco supposedly occurred. He understood it was to "trim the fat". 

He agreed to the well-timed proclamation without a murmur or hesitation despite the fact that he has been intimately involved in the extradition of Messrs Galbaransingh and Ferguson and thus obviously familiar with the case.

Notwithstanding his changing attorneys in the case and subsequent non-appeal of Justice Boodoosingh decision.

Such an incompetent must not hold any position in government. Although, from where I sit, crass incompetence seems to be the order of the day in this misnomer called the People's Partnership.

Ish Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson et al will win their appeal of the repeal and when they walk away without facing trial, the fallout will be catastrophic for this government.

This is not guesswork. It is pure logic.

The PNM Opposition must also be held responsible for their part in this affair as they did not ensure that white-collar crime was included in Schedule 6, thereby ensuring that all those charged for committing such odious acts face a jury of their peers from the dock.

Catherine Hidalgo

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