debut: 2/16/17
39,720 runs
T&T..AG flags millions in legal fees to PNM ‘golf partners
Attorney General John Jeremie has raised concerns over how the additional $89 million allocated to his ministry in the Mid-year Budget Review will be spent, revealing that a significant portion will go towards settling debts accrued under the former People’s National Movement (PNM) administration.Speaking during yesterday’s debate in Parliament, Jeremie said the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs (AGLA) inherited substantial arrears, including legal fees and rental costs linked to individuals allegedly close to the Opposition.Seven weeks into office, Jeremie said he uncovered a pattern where large payments were made to people who “played golf with a former prime minister”—a veiled reference to ties between legal service providers and high-ranking officials in the previous government.
“If you were not playing golf and submitted invoices, some of which I received between Monday and last night, it amounts to $150 million,” he said.Turning to the ongoing CLICO matter, Jeremie revealed that service providers Deloitte & Touche had not been paid for two years. He said he met with the firm and a king’s counsel lawyer, both of whom could not provide a definitive cost for completing the matter, though Deloitte and Touche claimed over $300 million in unpaid fees.Jeremie, who initiated the CLICO recovery process in 2003, said the matter has dragged on for over two decades. Over the years, the State has spent nearly $1 billion on the issue.
Although Hosein said government has “closed the trough,” Jeremie described the legal fees owed by his office as a “gravy train,” and promised to pursue investigations into possible allegations of misconduct in public office.Jeremie said the wastage of money was tied to potential, criminal wrongdoing and pledged to investigate it with “every fibre of my being.”
Attorney General John Jeremie has raised concerns over how the additional $89 million allocated to his ministry in the Mid-year Budget Review will be spent, revealing that a significant portion will go towards settling debts accrued under the former People’s National Movement (PNM) administration.Speaking during yesterday’s debate in Parliament, Jeremie said the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs (AGLA) inherited substantial arrears, including legal fees and rental costs linked to individuals allegedly close to the Opposition.Seven weeks into office, Jeremie said he uncovered a pattern where large payments were made to people who “played golf with a former prime minister”—a veiled reference to ties between legal service providers and high-ranking officials in the previous government.
“If you were not playing golf and submitted invoices, some of which I received between Monday and last night, it amounts to $150 million,” he said.Turning to the ongoing CLICO matter, Jeremie revealed that service providers Deloitte & Touche had not been paid for two years. He said he met with the firm and a king’s counsel lawyer, both of whom could not provide a definitive cost for completing the matter, though Deloitte and Touche claimed over $300 million in unpaid fees.Jeremie, who initiated the CLICO recovery process in 2003, said the matter has dragged on for over two decades. Over the years, the State has spent nearly $1 billion on the issue.
Although Hosein said government has “closed the trough,” Jeremie described the legal fees owed by his office as a “gravy train,” and promised to pursue investigations into possible allegations of misconduct in public office.Jeremie said the wastage of money was tied to potential, criminal wrongdoing and pledged to investigate it with “every fibre of my being.”
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