Political row over law fees

Maharaj in a statement titled, ‘Students suffer administrative incompetence at law school’, alleged that repeater students were asked to pay the full economic cost of their tuition just hours before registration.

Hitherto, all students paid just $13,000, while the Government subsidised $81,000. But now some must pay the full sum of $94,000.

Maharaj said a delegation of students had asked him to represent them.

Al-Rawi yesterday told Newsday that Cabinet had not taken this decision (to force students to pay the full cost) but rather it was the former People’s Partnership (PP) government - according to details given to him yesterday by the school’s principal Miriam Samaroo.

“It was a decision of the Kamla Persad-Bissessar Government of which Devant Maharaj was a member,” Al-Rawi said adding that 40 students will be affected by the removal of the subsidy.

Both Maharaj and Al-Rawi speaking separately lamented that the change may hurt the legitimate expectations of the students.

Al-Rawi said, “I’ll make a diligent attempt to ensure fairness.”