Young: No conflict of interest

Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Stuart Young yesterday dismissed claims made against him about a conflict of interest. The claims were contained in a media report which alleged Young’s current residence was owned by a senior Petrotrin official.

Young told reporters at the post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s, “Everything I do is proprietary and there is no conflict of interest.” He hinted that he was keeping his legal options open on the matter.

On Tuesday, Young issued a statement on his Facebook page that he ended his relationship with his partner on amicable terms and he would not discuss his private life in public. Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi observed, “Those persons who have a serious problem with Minister Young’s immense capacity and ability and his very aggressive charge towards the anti-corruption matters as the Office of the AG is pursuing.”

Al-Rawi said Young had the full support of the Cabinet. He said it was clear that Young’s actions were causing problems for people who had questions to answer. Al-Rawi said the ministry functioned efficiently because both he and Young came from private practice. “Obviously we have conflicts of interest from time to time,” he said. Al-Rawi said it was not a problem for Young or himself to recuse themselves should such situations arise. “We are not lost for potential or capacity,” he said.