The PNM Government says the Privy Council ruling on the Section 34 issue is no “vindication” for the PP administration.
The Privy Council on Monday ruled that the repeal of the controversial legislation was lawful. This was done by the PP administration. Former prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said the ruling vindicated her government despite PNM attacks and rabble rousing on the issue.
Yesterday, a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister stated: “With respect to the recent ruling at the Privy Council, the simple outcome is that persons who are charged with criminal offences will be made to face a trial, despite all attempts to do otherwise. This being the undisputed fact then, the public utterances of the Opposition Leader claiming vindication is insulting to the population.”
The statement added: “It was Persad-Bissessar’s Government that produced legislation, into which Section 34 was buried, with the intention of creating an opening for persons to avoid a trial. It was her Government which gave assurances to the Parliament, then promptly ignored them, and it was a Cabinet-led by her which secretly proclaimed Section 34.
“This conspiratorial proclamation had one singular objective and it was to give persons the opportunity to escape the court trial. It was when they were caught red-handed and in the face of public outrage at the actions of her Cabinet that the Government was forced back to the Parliament and with PNM support was made to undo what she had secretly proclaimed.”