Minister of Finance Colm Imbert and the Cabinet believed that Auditor General Jaiwantie Ramdass was an ant they would have been able to kill with their political sledgehammer, according to her attorneys.
The politicians, however, failed to realise that Ramdass was a person who would continue to stand her ground and resist any attempt by Government to bully her, her lawyers stated yesterday.
The attorneys, from Freedom Law Chambers, led by former attorney general Anand Ramlogan, SC, said this in a joint statement after the Privy Council ruled against Imbert and the Cabinet earlier yesterday.
Five judges of the apex court unanimously found that Ramdass ought to be granted leave for judicial review to challenge the setting up of an investigative committee by Imbert and the Cabinet to conduct a probe into her office with regard to a $2.5 billion understatement in the country’s 2023 financial records.
Imbert and the Cabinet claimed the local Appeal Court got it wrong in allowing Ramdass permission to file the claim.
In the statement yesterday, Ramdass’ attorneys said her claim for judicial review was filed based on “political bias and unfair treatment due to the scathing political attacks against her by Minister of Finance Colm Imbert and attorney General Reginald Armour.”
They said with the Privy Council ruling, Ramdass has been vindicated in her pursuit of justice and her quest to protect the integrity and independence of her office.
“This claim stemmed from an alleged mistake on the part of the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank which they claimed led to a $3.4 billion understatement of the Government’s revenue. That figure was subsequently revised with $780 million being suddenly dropped and the alleged increase in revenue being capped at 2.5 billion,” the attorneys stated.
They went on to add that the Ministry of Finance could not in fact substantiate the increased figure claimed.
It also could not explain the decrease from the initial $3.4 billion to the eventual $2.5 billion figure, they noted. The lawyers stated:
“The political investigation launched by the Government into the Auditor General in search of answers to serious financial questions that lay at the doorstep of the Minister of Finance is irresponsible and dangerous to the independence of her office.
“This was nothing more than a disingenuous attempt to shift blame for a massive negligent mistake that is yet to be properly explained.
“No one has been held responsible for this glaring failure to present proper national accounts to the Auditor General as required by law,” stated the attorneys.
Further, they said Ramdass is committed to upholding the constitutional values and principles that underpin the independence of her office, and she will remain true to her oath to act without fear or favour and to protect the public interest.
“Should the Government continue with this charade of an investigation, she will continue to stand her ground and fight for justice. It is time for good sense to prevail as there are far more urgent and pressing problems that must be addressed by the Government.
“Any attempt to hound her out of office will be met with a swift and potent legal response. This was a victory for the rule of law and the public. She was the mouse that roared, and the Government’s political sledgehammer failed to kill what they thought would be an ant,” the attorneys stated. —Rickie Ramdass
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