AKASH SAMAROO
Lead Editor – Politics
Attorney General John Jeremie came to the defence of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s legal credentials in Parliament early Saturday, accusing Opposition MP Stuart Young of crossing the line before questioning Young’s own elevation to the rank of Senior Counsel.
The heated exchange came as Jeremie wrapped up more than 13 hours of debate on the Special Operations Bill, 2026, after taking issue with comments Young made about Persad-Bissessar and her qualifications.
Jeremie told the House he believed Young had gone too far by suggesting that Persad-Bissessar had effectively awarded herself Senior Counsel status while serving as Prime Minister.
Persad-Bissessar was elevated to Senior Counsel in December 2011 during her first term as Prime Minister.
Jeremie said there had been a pattern of remarks directed at Persad-Bissessar and described Young’s latest comments as being “over the line.”
“I want colleagues to think about it for a second, because this is not something that is trivial,” Jeremie said.
“There is a pattern of behaviour that comes from a certain individual in this House, aimed and directed at a woman who is 75 years old.”
He then challenged Young’s standing to question Persad-Bissessar’s qualifications.
“You can speak of her in the worst and most derogatory of terms, as was done before I came to this place. And then you speak of her today in terms of her qualifications,” Jeremie said.
“And who are you to speak of anyone’s qualifications?”
Persad-Bissessar was among 16 attorneys awarded silk by then President George Maxwell Richards in 2011. Her elevation while serving as Prime Minister attracted controversy at the time, with then Attorney General Anand Ramlogan defending the award and arguing that senior public office holders had traditionally been considered for the honour.
The parliamentary exchange then became increasingly personal as Jeremie turned his attention to Young’s own legal career.
Jeremie recalled a court matter involving the two attorneys approximately 15 years ago.
“With respect to comments of me being a dunce, my colleagues on this side would know me,” Jeremie began, before referring to what he described as one of Young’s last cases.
Young immediately shouted across the floor, “Fifteen years ago.”
“Fifteen years ago,” Jeremie repeated.
Jeremie then said he had taken a red pen and “had to mark up everything” in the matter.
Young shot back, “And lost the case.”
Jeremie continued despite the interruption, eventually turning the argument back on Young’s legal experience and his elevation to Senior Counsel.
“He has done no law in the last 15 years, but appointed himself Senior Counsel,” Jeremie charged.
Young was awarded Senior Counsel status in June 2024 while serving as Energy and Energy Industries Minister under the former PNM administration.
At the time, Young said he had practised as an advocate from his admission to the Bar in the late 1990s until entering government in September 2015, including appearing in matters that reached the Privy Council. He also rejected suggestions that he had selected himself for the honour, saying he was not responsible for making the award.
Under the process outlined by President Christine Kangaloo in 2024, attorneys seeking silk apply through the Attorney General. The Attorney General consults with the Chief Justice and others considered necessary before making recommendations to the Prime Minister, who then advises the President on the appointments.
