Young's statements on Venezuelan migrants worry Law Association

RECENT statements by National Security Minister Stuart Young on court proceedings involving illegal Venezuelan migrants have concerned the Law Association.

In a release on Monday, the association said it was concerned by aspects of the press conference at which the minister questioned the role played by lawyers in the court proceedings which seek to prevent the deportation of Venezuelan migrants.

The association said it was laso concerned by "his criticism of the court for not applying the law but 'the policy that it wants, ' and his lament about the 'upsurge in habeas corpus proceedings' the use of which he described as “very dangerous.'"

The association reminded that the courts were bound to uphold all the laws of Trinidad and Tobago and to hear and determine all applications brought before the court.

“For their part, attorneys-at-law are duty-bound to represent their clients fearlessly in order to ensure that the law is followed and the State is held to account.

“The pandemic poses a danger to all of us, but the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution to all who happen to be on our shores, including especially the rights of the child, the independence of the Judiciary and the rule of law must not be disregarded even in these trying times,” the association said in its statement on Monday.