Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar qualified for the title of Senior Counsel- and "silk"-because of her standing as a former attorney general, a former Legal Affairs minister and her distinguished record of service in the legal arena, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan said yesterday. Ramlogan was replying to an Opposition question in the House of Representatives on the issue.
He said no application was submitted by the Prime Minister to the Attorney General for the consideration of the award of Senior Counsel. Ramlogan said: "Silk has traditionally been awarded to persons who hold high public office...Such persons have never been required to submit an application."
These people included the Solicitor General, Director of Public Prosecutions,Chief Parliamentary Counsel, chairman, Law Reform Commission, the Attorney General and the Prime Minister." Ramlogan also noted that former PNM attorney general John Jeremie had been awarded silk in his tenure.
The AG said he had followed the precedent set by Jeremie in that the AG, as titular head of the T&T bar, was traditionally awarded this rank. He said he did not know why former NAR attorney general Anthony Smart or PNM AG Keith Sobion were not awarded silk in their tenures.
On further PNM queries on the issues, Ramlogan said former PNM AG Bridgid Annisette-George was "kicked" out of office before she could be elevated to Senior Counsel. He said he consulted with the Chief Justice with respect to this application as required by the published conditions laid down in the Trinidad and Tobago Gazette.
He said he also had consultations with the president of the Law Association, Dana Seetahal, SC. Ramlogan said the final list of his recommendations of the applicants for the award of Silk was submitted the Prime Minister on December 19, 2011.