Dillon consults lawyers on gag order

MINISTER in the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Stuart Young yesterday said National Security Minister Edmund Dillon was seeking legal advice on allegations that he violated a gag order related to a civil matter in New York.

Young told reporters at the post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s, the issue formed “no part of Cabinet discussions” yesterday.

Reiterating it was a matter, “that is personal to Minister Dillon,” Young said, “I spoke to him today. He told me has asked his lawyers in the United States to look into it.” Young said he did not know the particulars of the case but he saw a woman involved in this matter being interviewed on television.

He said if there was a gag order, “it would seem she was in breach of the gag order.” Young said it appeared the woman had a specific discussion with a reporter, “to what she thought went on.”

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar yesterday reiterated her call for Dillon to be fired with posts on her Twitter and Facebook pages.

Young also said Dillon was communicating with his counterparts in Venezuela regarding three TT fishermen who were reportedly detained by members of Venezuela’s Guardia Nacional in TT waters. He said if that happened, it would be a breach of the International Law of the Sea.

Young disclosed that former ambassador Christopher Thomas received documents and his terms of reference on April 7. Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley appointed Thomas to investigate TT’s vote against a waiver of Dominica’s Organisation of American States membership fees. Young said Thomas was working on the matter.