Former Ambassador challenges PM

Charles has filed an application for leave which will be heard in the Port of Spain High Court on March 14, by Justice Frank Seepersad, who said he did not intend to spend an inordinately long time dealing with the issue of leave.

Representing Charles is attorney Devesh Maharaj while President of the Law Association Reginald Armour SC, and attorney Nadine Nabbie appear for the prime minister.

Armour indicated yesterday when the matter was called that he only received Charles’ application last Friday and needed time to respond.

Charles was granted permission to file an amended application by this Friday and Rowley’s affidavit in response, is to be filed on March 3. In his notice of application, Charles of Union Hall, Cross Crossing, is seeking a declaration that the decision of the prime minister to revoke his appointment was illegal, made in bad faith and is contrary to fundamental human rights provided for under the Constitution.

He says that he was not provided equality before the law and equality of treatment. Charles will also be asking the court to declare that he had a legitimate expectation to maintain his rank and position as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary upon returning to Trinidad and Tobago and therefore the decision of the prime minister to revoke his appointment as ambassador was a deprivation of his legitimate expectation that he would have retained his position.

He also seeks an order quashing the ‘flawed and defective’ decision to revoke his appointment as the prime minister failed to provide reasons for doing so and an order redirecting his (Charles’) appointment in addition to damages.

According to Charles, he was appointed Ambassador in March 2012.

He said he never had any previous interaction with Foreign Affairs Minister Dennis Moses and in September 2015, Moses visited the UN Headquarters in New York to attend the 70th session of the UN General Assembly.

Charles said he and Moses attended a series of meetings in which he briefed the Minister and advised him on several issues including a meeting of CARICOM Foreign Ministers.

Charles said that on September 30, 2015, Moses met with Ghanian Foreign Minister and while it was customary for advisors to attend, the minister did not want him (Charles) present at the meeting.

Charles said he later learned that the Ghanian minister had his advisors present at the meeting which concerned the planned visit by PM Rowley to Ghana in 2016.

Charles said at the end of 2015, he was asked by the acting permanent secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry to submit his resume which he did although this was not the norm. He said that on September 20, 2016, he received an instrument of revocation of his appointment.