The Attorney General’s action to seek the High Court’s interpretation of the Tobago House of Assembly Act Chapter 25:03 has been given the green light to proceed.
The Court of Appeal, in an unanimous decision today, dismissed the appeals by Political Leader of Progressive Democratic Patriots, Watson Duke, and THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine.
The civil proceedings brought by the AG surrounded the then appointment of Watson Duke on December 9th, 2021, as Deputy Chief Secretary of the THA and a member of the Executive Council of the Assembly, while he was being paid to serve as Chairman of the Public Services Association (PSA) and a member of the Registration, Recognition and Certification Board (RRCB).
Mr. Duke and Mr. Augustine maintained that the suit was purely academic as Mr. Duke eventually resigned from both posts, however the High Court refused to strike out the AG’s action as academic.
The Court of Appeal directed that the AG’s civil action be remitted to the High Court for further adjudication and case management.