The Court of Appeal rules against the Tobago House of Assembly and its leader Farley Augustine.

Yesterday the Appeal Court dismissed an action brought against the decision of High Court Judge, Margaret Mohammed.

Madam Justice Mohammed had refused to strike out the entirety of a claim brought the Office of the Attorney General against Chief Secretary Augustine, the THA and its former Deputy Chief Secretary Watson Duke.

However while the appeal by Mr. Augustine and the THA was dismissed, the court held that it could find no fault in the decision of Justice Mohammed in discontinuing the AG’s claim against Mr. duke.

In essence, Justice Mohammed dismissed the claim against Mr. Duke while at the same time directed the claim against Chief Justice Augustine and the THA proceed to trial.

The ruling was delivered yesterday afternoon by Justice Mira Dean-Armorer, who presided over the appeal along with Justice Malcolm Holdip.

It means the claim against Mr. Augustine and the THA has been remitted to Justice Mohammed to proceed to trial.

Following the ruling, the Office of the Attorney General says it was pleased with the ruling of the court.

Via statement Attorney General Reginal Armour SC notes that the Court of Appeal directed that the Attorney General’s civil action be remitted to the court for further adjudication and case management.

The AG says the determination now of the questions posed to the High Court will redound to the good of the citizenry of Trinidad and Tobago, and is consistent with the public interest of clarity of law.

The Office of the Attorney General had brought the claim in December 2021 after Mr. Duke did not immediately step down as President of the Public Services Association and a member of the Registration, Recognition and Certification Board after being appointed as Deputy Chief Secretary of the Progressive Democratic Patriots.