THERE were heated exchanges between government and opposition MPs in the House of Representatives on Monday as the latter demanded answers from acting prime minister Colm Imbert about Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC's disqualification in the almost two-decade-old Piarco Airport corruption case in a Miami court.
On May 2, US judge Reemberto Diaz "automatically disqualified" Armour and the US law firm Sequor Law, hired by the government in 2004, from taking any part in the US multi-million-dollar civil forfeiture case. The ground for this move was Armour's previous involvement as a defence attorney for some of those charged in related criminal proceedings in TT.
Imbert fielded prime minister's questions in the House in the absence of Dr Rowley.
He left TT on June 6 to attend the Ninth Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, California. The summit ended on June 10. Rowley has remained in California.
In a statement on Sunday, the Office of the Prime Minister said, "Dr Rowley is scheduled to undergo routine medical testing in the coming weeks which includes cardiac and prostate analysis." Rowley underwent the same tests in California in 2019. Imbert will act as prime minister until Rowley returns. No date was given for his return.
Monday was the second sitting of the House for June. Under the House's standing orders, prime minister's questions are entertained at its second sitting each month.
Barataria/ San Juan MP Saddam Hosein asked Imbert if Armour was the subject of any investigation by US authorities in relation to his disqualification.
Imbert replied, "I am unaware of any such investigation."
Hosein asked if Armour had disclosed any alleged conflict of interest he had in the Piarco case to the Cabinet.
Imbert said, "The deliberations of Cabinet are confidential."
Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal recalled that previous instances where government ministers recused themselves from certain Cabinet deliberations were made public. He asked, "Is the prime minister saying on this matter, the government will remain secret?"
Imbert reiterated, "As I indicated, the deliberations of Cabinet are confidential."
Hosein asked if Armour had disclosed his alleged conflict of interest to Rowley before he was appointed AG in March.
Imbert said," I do not have any such knowledge."
Hosein claimed Armour's actions have embarrassed TT internationally.
Opposition MPs thumped their desks as Hosein asked, "Is the prime minister in a position to state whether or not the AG will be tendering his resignation?"
Deputy Speaker Esmond Forde told Hosein, "The question does not arise."
Hosein asked why Rural Development and Local Government Minister Faris Al-Rawi had replaced Armour as client representative in the Miami case. He also asked about the cost to Government of retaining the US law firm of White and Case. which replaced Sequor Law in the matter.
Imbert said the former was permissible under the Constitution, at sections 76, 78 and 79.
Section 76 (2) makes the AG responsible for the administra
