AND SEAN DOUGLAS

SPEAKER Jagdeo Singh told Newsday he was cleared by the highest court in the land, when asked about once being charged for corruption but ultimately cleared.

Newsday spoke to him on May 23 at the celebration of the opening of Parliament in the Red House Rotunda after he was earlier elected Speaker of the House of Representatives.

He was given seven years hard labour in 2001 in the Port of Spain Assizes after conviction under two charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act (to run concurrently), and in 2002 the Appeal Court dismissed his appeal and affirmed his sentence.

However in 2005, the UK-based Privy Council quashed the convictions, ruling, "Having regard to the term already served by the appellant, a retrial was inappropriate."

Newsday asked him if public confidence in him as Speaker could be undermined by the case, such as if people felt he had got off on a technicality.

He replied, "I don't know about that."

"I believe in the rule of law and the Privy Council has spoken. That is all I could say at this point."

Newsday asked if people would have reservations about him?

He replied, "I can't control what people feel. But I could control what I do. Thank you very much."

Asked if anybody has expressed any concern, he replied, "No. Thank you very much." He turned away to continue to socialise with family members.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, when later asked if Singh's past could taint the government despite his conviction being overturned, responded with another question.

"What was the last word you said there? Exactly, overturned."

She added, "Our justice system allows us to have justice. You are innocent until proven guilty and he remains innocent because he was never proven guilty. All the charges have been thrown out."

She expressed unwavering confidence in him and suggested his qualities far outweighed his previous legal troubles.

"He is a very strong a person and very learned in law and on that basis I think he will make an excellent Speaker.

"He's committed to helping people and has done it in his practice so that’s what we are about."

Given that TT had woken up earlier to news of new parliamentary appointments, Newsday asked Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles if TT ought to adopt the US system of congressional committees publicly vetting nominees for public office. She replied, "It is a matter that ultimately I think we will have to look at."

Beckles said she did not see any nominations before the sitting.

"We saw it in the newspapers. We came, like you, to the Parliament and that would have been the first time that we knew about it.

"I have made my position very clear about willing to collaborate, willing to listen to the government, not to take a confrontational approach.

"Yes, I would have preferred that we knew about it before."

Attorneys back Singh's appointment

Meanwhile several top attorneys backed fraternity member Singh's elevation to Speaker.

Singh, an attorney with decades of experience under his belt, was elected