A special general meeting of the Law Association will be held tomorrow when a motion of no confidence is to be moved against the association’s president Senior Counsel Reginald Armour and vice president Gerry Brooks for conduct deemed “improper.”
The motion of no confidence is being brought against Armour and Brooks for their alleged failure to consult with the Law Association’s membership to obtain a view on the Strategic Services Agency (Amendment) Bill 2016 before meeting with Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi.
The actions of Armour and Brooks are said to have had the ability to “seriously” undermine the Law Association.
The meeting is in response to a requisition signed by 29 members of the Law Association including former attorney general Anand Ramlogan.
It will be held at the Convocation Hall of the Hall of Justice in Port-of-Spain at 3 pm.
Both Armour and Brooks will step down from chairing the meeting.
The purpose of the meeting is to call upon Armour and Brooks to disclose whether any substantive position was articulated to Al-Rawi regarding the Strategic Services Agency (Amendment) Bill 2016.
On June 30, Elena Araujo, the association’s secretary, was served with a request to convene the special general meeting.
A committee led by Senior Counsel Elton Prescott and comprising Araujo and Darrell Allahar was appointed to consider the request and make recommendations to the council.
Only those practitioner members who have paid their annual subscription for 2015/2016 are eligible to attend and vote.
“The Council of the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago through its President Armour SC and its Vice President Brooks did not obtain the views of the membership on the said Bill prior to meeting with the Honourable Attorney General and have failed, neglected or refused to obtain such views or even to report on the outcome of their meeting with the Honourable Attorney General to the membership,” the requisition stated.
“In the circumstances we find that the conduct of the President of the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago Mr Armour SC and the Vice President of the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago Mr Gerry Brooks is improper and has seriously undermined the standing and respect of the Law Association in civil society who legitimately looks to the Association for its opinions on matters of grave public importance,” it stated.
Among those who signed the requisition are Opposition Senator Wayne Sturge, Gerard Ramdeen, Robin Montano and Collin Partap.
There was additional controversy surrounding the requisition as attorney Ravi Rajcoomar was named among those who signed the document.
Rajcoomar has, however, distanced himself from the requisition stating he has “every confidence” in Armour and Brooks.
Armour previously acted as the attorney for Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley when he was the leader of the Opposition.
Brooks is currently the chairman of the National Gas Company.