(Trinidad Express) Attorney General Reginald Armour is a “blundering buffoon” who is unfit to hold office, says Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
She said his claim that a public servant was responsible for a $25,000 savings clause in the pension legislation is “preposterous”.
The former prime minister warned that because the country is “broke” and “the treasury is empty”, the People’s National Movement (PNM) will bring back this measure as well as other oppressive plans, such as increases to water and electricity rates—post-election—if they were to return to government.
She called on the people to exercise their power and vote out the PNM.
Speaking at a news conference at the United National Congress (UNC) Chaguanas headquarters yesterday, Persad-Bissessar accused the Government of deliberate deception in their handling of the pension bill.
The controversy stems from a proposed clause in The Miscellaneous Provisions (Senior Citizens Pension and Public Assistance) Bill 2024 that would disqualify pensioners with savings of $25,000 or more from receiving a senior citizens pension—which Persad-Bissessar highlighted at a public meeting on Monday.
The AG and Social Development Minister Donna Cox held a news conference on Wednesday, where the AG said the savings clause was an error because it was inserted by a public servant when the bill went before the Legislative Review Committee (LRC), and that it would be withdrawn.
Persad-Bissessar rubbished Armour’s explanation, pointing out that having served both as a former AG and prime minister, she knows the rigorous legislative process through which bills are drafted and approved.
She stressed such a clause could not have been overlooked.
“No public servant will get up on a ‘vaps’ and insert a clause that will disqualify elderly citizens with over $25,000 in savings from their hard-earned pension,” said Persad-Bissessar.
She pointed out that the Cabinet Note was taken to the Cabinet in March 2023 and decided upon in November 2024, meaning the Cabinet had 18 months before this “error” was discovered.
Cabinet process
Persad-Bissessar said the Prime Minister is supposed to read the bill and instruct that it be placed on the agenda for a Cabinet meeting.
The entire Cabinet will consider the bill and make changes, she said.
After the Cabinet approves the bill, the AG then lays the bill in Parliament so that the Government can use its majority to pass it and make it a law.
“How could such an important clause that would disenfranchise thousands of elderly people from their pensions not be noticed? Were they all asleep at the Cabinet table?” asked Persad-Bissessar.
She questioned whether the Government is now back-pedalling because they were caught trying to pull a “fast one”.
Persad-Bissessar accused the Government of attempting to “steal bread from the tables of pensioners” while shielding Minister of Social Development Donna Cox, who had publicly defended the clause before backlash forced a reversal.
The Opposition Leader warned that the pension controversy is a symptom of deeper financial troubles.
“The PNM Government is broke. They’ve been forced to approach local banks for emergency loans to fund operations until March 2025. Even the banks are wary of lending to them,” she claimed, pointing to a July 2024 Central Bank decision that eased reserve requirements to facilitate government borrowing.
“His excuses are a disgrace. Time and again, Armour has blamed public servants for his own failures. This pension fiasco is just another example of his gross incompetence,” said Persad-Bissessar.
The controversies
The Opposition Leader detailed several high-profile controversies involving Armour which she said makes him unfit to hold office. She outlined the following:
1. Piarco Airport case: Armour was disqualified from representing Trinidad and Tobago in a US court after misrepresenting himself under oath.
2. Missing files: A $20 million lawsuit related to the Vindra Naipaul-Coolman case was mishandled under his watch, with Armour blaming “missing files”.
3. Cyberattack silence: A 2023 cyberattack on the Attorney General’s Office was not revealed until the media exposed it.
4. Auditor General “bullying”: The AG was accused of trying to pressure the Auditor General into amending a report involving $3.4 billion.
5. Tobago Registrar General’s Office issues: Armour blamed two unnamed employees for systemic failures without providing evidence.
