Ramesh, Karl following the same path
THE EDITOR: In the just concluded Naraynsingh/Ramasir murder trial the press kept referring to Lead Counsel for the defence as follows: Karl Hudson-Phillip QC for Naraynsingh, former Attorney General Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj SC for Ramasir. Curiously none of the journalists saw the significance of those two lawyers at the trial. For example, no one seems to remember that Hudson-Phillips was also Attorney General for the PNM. Thus you had the position of former AG of the Government and former AG of the Opposition appearing on the same side in a non-political matter. But there is more, much more of which we can note. Both Attorneys-General served for approximately five years. Mr Hudson Phillips from 1968 to 1973. Mr Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj from 1996 to 2001. Both lawyers left office in almost similar circumstances. (a) Mr Hudson-Phillips had a controversy with his PM Dr Williams as a result of which he resigned. (b) Mr Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj also had a controversy with his PM Mr Basdeo Panday who fired him. Both lawyers subsequently launched political parties. (a) Mr Hudson-Phillips founded the ONR and Mr Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj founded "Team Unity." Both political parties fought against their former parties in Government (a) Mr Hudson-Phillip’s ONR fought the PNM in 1981 following the death of Dr Eric Williams. (b) Mr Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj’s Team Unity fought the UNC following hte UNC Government’s collapse in 2001. Both parties failed to win a single seat in the election (a) ONR — remember "Not a damn seat for dem" (b) Team Unity remember 29 of their 30 Candidates lost their deposits. The ONR was dissolved in 1986 to help form the NAR which formed the Government in that year. Although Mr Hudson-Phillips did not accept office, several members of his party accepted ministerial office. (C) Mr Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj "Team Unity" is now "defunct" (to quote Mr Ganga Singh) and it appears that Mr Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj is holding on to Mr Panday’s shirt tails fighting to regain some sort of political recognition. He is going here, there and everywhere making statements, writing letters and hoping that he will not be the bride left at the altar waiting for the groom who never shows. ATTA K O KUJIFI Attorney-at-Law Champs Fleurs
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"Ramesh, Karl following the same path"