Kamla, Young clash over silk, legal fees

OPPOSITION Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young argued in the House over legal fees paid to attorneys.

Their argument arose during their respective contributions to debate on a motion moved by Finance Minister Colm Imbert to approve a report of its Standing Finance Committee on Wednesday.

Reiterating allegations she made at a UNC public meeting on Monday about legal fees paid to certain attorneys, Persad-Bissessar asked how many of them would benefit from a sum of $190 million allocated to the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs to pay for the services of local and foreign attorneys?

She claimed attorneys Kerwyn Garcia, SC, Rishi Dass, Douglas Mendes, SC, and Terrence Bharath were among those who would benefit from this allocation.

Garcia (husband of President Christine Kangaloo), Bharath and Dass were among 17 attorneys receiving letters appointing them to senior counsel status on Monday by President Kangaloo.

Persad-Bissessar asked, "How much are they going to benefit from this supplementation?"

She advised Barataria/San Juan MP Saddam Hosein to be ready to take legal action against the Government if they do not answer this question.

Persad-Bissessar also confirmed receiving a letter from attorney Michael Quamina, acting on behalf of the Prime Minister, in a defamation matter she has raised against Dr Rowley. Quamina received silk on Monday.

Young slammed Persad-Bissessar for launching what he called, personalised attacks, on attorneys. He reminded it was Persad-Bissessar who was elevated to SC status when she was prime minister in 2011.

"One of the duties of silk and inner bar members (of the legal fraternity) is to protect the profession," Young said, adding, "It is wrong (Persad-Bissessar's criticisms) and it is something that should not be encouraged."

He said Persad-Bissessar herself had justified the argument for paying legal fees to attorneys hired by the state. Young said she highlighted political activist Ravi Balgobin Maharaj as someone who continuously brings litigation against the state.

"Every time litigation is commenced against the state, under the Constitution, if it is civil ligitation, the defender of the state is the AG and the office of the AG," he said as he sought to justify the need to pay attorneys to represent the State.

Deputy Speaker Esmond Forde overruled Persad-Bissessar's complaints against Young's statements.

Young asked, "What is good for Peter, isn't good for Paul?"

Persad-Bissessar countered, "It is the constitutional right of every citizen to have access to a court of law."

Young replied, "It is also the responsibility of the AG and the Office of the AG, to responsibly defend every piece of litigation that is brought against the state." He added, "That comes at a cost."