Coudray wins legal battle against PNM

MARLENE COUDRAY, common-law wife of embattled Pt Fortin MP Lawrence Achong will remain as Chief Executive Officer of the San Fernando City Corporation (SFCC), a position she has held for the past 11 years. This was revealed in the San Fernando Civil Court yesterday, after a transfer order for Coudray to take up duties at Point Fortin Borough Corporation, was revoked via a  letter to her attorneys last Friday. Coudray was accompanied to court by Achong as well as workers from the SFCC and members of the Public Services Association (PSA) led by president Jennifer Baptiste-Primus. Achong sat in the packed public benches and listened attentively as Justice Gregory Smith read out a statement revoking Coudray’s transfer. As she left the Supreme Court building holding hands with Achong, a smiling Coudray told Newsday: “I did not take on the Prime Minister, I took on an individual who opposed me with cause, whoever that individual might be.”

When asked if he thought his resignation from Cabinet two Fridays ago might have influenced the State’s decision to revoke Coudray’s transfer Achong said: “I don’t know. They knew that either they withdrew it, or lose it and they knew they would have lost, because her attorney Anand Ramlogan was dealing with a set of idiots.” Coudray alleged in her lawsuit filed on January 7, that Prime Minister Patrick Manning was behind the move to transfer her to Point Fortin Borough Corporation. In the lawsuit, Coudray called on Manning to state why he publicly declared to the media that she would be transferred to Point Fortin. In granting Coudray leave to apply for judicial review, Justice Carlton Best ordered Manning to file affidavits in response by February 17.

None was filed, but if Manning had done so, he could have been subjected to cross-examination by Coudray’s attorneys had the case gone to trial. In the packed courtroom yesterday, Ramlogan told Justice Gregory Smith he received a letter from the SASC last Friday, purporting to revoke Coudray’s transfer. But part of the contents of the letter was defective, Ramlogan added. He then called on Justice Smith to rectify the issue based on an agreement he had reached with attorneys for the Commission. Assistant Solicitor General Terrence Thorne, State attorney Nadine Nabbie and attorney Kerwyn Garcia, represented the SASC. Garcia informed the judge he was in agreement with the position reached with Ramlogan for a consent order.

Justice Smith then asked Coudray to stand and he read the order which stated that the SASC was to revoke all transfer orders relating to her application for judicial review. The judge’s order further stated that Coudray was to withdraw her lawsuit filed on January 7, and the State was ordered to pay Coudray’s legal costs. After the hearing, Achong held Coudray’s hands and led her out the courtroom. PSA president Jennifer Baptiste-Primus and supporters accompanied the couple.