Kamla fires Justice Minister

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar tonight dismissed her Justice Minister Herbert Volney after accusing him of providing “erroneous advice” to the government regarding the early proclamation of the legislation that critics say was aimed at ensuring the fraud cases against two party financiers were dropped.
In a 30-minute address to the nation, Prime Minister Persad Bissessar said the former judge had misled the Cabinet when he said the Chief Justice Ivor Archie and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Roger Gaspard had supported the idea of the early proclamation of section 34 of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act.
The government last week called an emergency session of parliament to repeal the controversial clause that had the effect of allowing people, whose trial has not started after a ten-year period to walk free and a verdict of not guilty entered against them. (CMC)