AND SHANE SUPERVILLE
After hours of arguments and debate, a motion of no confidence in Attorney General Reginald Armour, SC, has failed. The motion was filed by a group led by attorney Kiel Taklalsingh.
Attorneys began arriving at the conference room of the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Port of Spain, from as early as 1 am for the debate on Friday.
The debate which was originally expected to begin at 2 pm was pushed back to 2.15 pm.
Out of approximately 3,040 lawyers who were eligible to vote, 317 financial members voted against the no-confidence motion against Armour over his role in the ongoing United States civil asset recovery case related to fraud allegations in the construction of the Piarco International Airport.
A final tally in support of the motion was 234, with 47 voting at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain and 187 on the virtual platform.
Of the 317 voting against the motion, 32 voted physically while 285 voted virtually.
Lawyers were also asked to vote on if a call should be made for Armour to resign as attorney general.
A total of 241 voted for the second motion, while a total of 310 voted against it with 31 doing so in person and 279 virtually.
A total of 551 financial members voted on the two motions with 472 virtual votes and 79 physical votes.
Special measures were put in place to protect the integrity of the voting process, Newsday was assured.
A statement from the association late Friday gave the final tally of votes for and against.
It said, "Both motions, therefore failed."
Speaking at the meeting virtually, Armour read from his previous statements and maintained he made an error, but did not act dishonestly or set out to willfully deceive the US court, Newsday was told.
Earlier, Newsday was told Taklalsingh explained why the motion was brought and described Armour as a “brilliant lawyer” who was forthright and honest, but he told the special general meeting, that was not why they were there. He said the actions of the AG in the Miami case was not in keeping with the traditions of the bar and his explanation should not be accepted as a “mere mistake” as it will signal an “appalling apathy” for affidavits.
He also reportedly said the motion to censure the AG had nothing to do with politics.
He was said to have admitted the association could not fire or discipline Armour but voting for the motion of censure would send a message that unprofessional conduct was unacceptable.
The association has no power to compel the Prime Minister to revoke Armour’s appointment or force his resignation.
Newsday understands Armour received support from his colleagues in the inner bar, all of whom spoke against the motion.
They included former Law Association president Russell Martineau, Elton Prescott and Gilbert Peterson, among others.
Also speaking against the motion were senior attorneys Michael Quamina, Ravi Rajcoomar, Ravi Nanga and Terrance Bharath, among others.
Those for the motion included attorneys Patricia Dindyal, Renuka Rambhajan and former attorney general Garvin N
