Dookeran welcomes block on Sharma arrest

“The President’s speech led people to wonder if he was setting the pace for house arrest of the CJ. This would have been contrary to the rule of law. While no one is above the law, everyone is entitled to due process of the law,” Dookeran said at his St Augustine office.

“I was relieved somewhat with the Privy Council’s involvement. I had always argued that due process of law, and civil liberties, should not be compromised, notwithstanding the charges against a person. The Privy Council’s undertaking is the right course of action.”

Dookeran further disclosed, “I am yet to be convinced that there was not a large political agenda at work in the attempt to arrest the CJ.”

Noting that he had called for an emergency sitting of Parliament on the issue, Dookeran said the confidence of the people in the judicial system will be restored by the Privy Council’s involvement in the CJ case.

On another matter, Dookeran said he held a “fairly tense meeting” with former UNC Chairman Basdeo Panday, last Tuesday, and they discussed “concerns in the public arena.”

“We’re working in the direction of bringing the broadest unity we can bring in the country.”

He added, evasively, “I am concerned about the sustainability of the effort. It’s a complex issue. We have not yet found an appropriate agenda to sort out these concerns.”

Dookeran also dismissed Works Minister Colm Imbert’s charge that UNC infighting was holding up implementation of the breathalyser legislation as another attempt to hoodwink the population.

He said he supports the legislation in principle, since it is good to support the implementation of road safety legislation.

“The legislation was never laid in Parliament to start with,” Dookeran noted.

He also disclosed that he met with representatives of the Planning Ministry yesterday morning to discuss the longstanding matter of compensation and leases for relocated Oropune residents, who are his constituents. He said some residents are yet to be relocated.