AG Ramlogan Hosts CARICOM Legal Affairs Committee

L-R: Ms. Jennifer C. Edwards, Solicitor General, Barbados; Ms. Safiya Ali, General Counsel, CARICOM Secretariat; The Honourable Adriel Braithwaite, QC, Attorney General and Minister of Home Affairs, Barbados; the Honourable Mohabir Anil Nandlall, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Guyana; Mr. Roy Baidjnath Panday, Solicitor General, Suriname; the Honourable Mr. Levi Peter, Attorney General, Dominica

The Legal Affairs Committee (LAC) of CARICOM met yesterday on the auspices of the Ministry of the Attorney General to discuss a wide range of important matters affecting member States. AG Ramlogan welcomed his colleagues and emphasized the need for frank and meaningful dialogue to advance CARICOM’s agenda. He lamented the slow pace of progress and asked that they put their collective shoulders to the wheel to ensure that the meeting was productive.

The need to give appropriate recognition to the emerging Organization of Eastern States (OECS) within the framework of the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas was discussed. This was a matter that was raised at the last Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua at which it was agreed that a special protocol was necessary in light of the faster rate of integration among OECS members.

The protocol governing CARICOM control, inspection and approval procedures for trade in animal and animal products within the region was raised in context of the potential health risks. A wide variety of issues were discussed including the CARICOM double taxation agreement, the agreement to establish a CARICOM fisheries policy for proper conservation, management and sustainable utilisation of fisheries resources by member States.

National Security issues were also raised in connection with the draft model Advance Passenger Information Bill and the LAC was appraised of recent decisions of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) which had implications for all Member States.

Several Attorneys General and one Solicitor General were in attendance including The Honourable Adriel Braithwaite, QC, Attorney General and Minister of Home Affairs, Barbados; the Honourable Mohabir Anil Nandlall, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Guyana; Mr. Roy Baidjnath Panday, Solicitor General, Suriname; the Honourable Mr. Levi Peter, Attorney General, Dominica; Senator the Honourable Anand Ramlogan, S.C., Attorney General, Trinidad and Tobago; and Senator the Honourable Jason Hamilton, Attorney General, St. Kitts and Nevis.

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Dated: THURSDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER, 2014

MINISTRY OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO