By Newsday Staff Saturday, October 20 2012

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Vincent Nelson QC...

British Queen’s Counsel Vincent Nelson and Roger Kawalsingh have been appointed to represent the Finance Ministry in the Commission of Inquiry into the failure of Colonial Life Insurance Company Ltd and the Hindu Credit Union and Co-operative Society Ltd.

This was disclosed by Minister of Finance Larry Howai in response to questions from Newsday on the status of legal representation after Seenath Jairam, president of the Law Association and Joseph Toney, Congress of the People chairman, withdrew their acceptance of the State briefs.

Howai said Kawalsingh was a former partner at Hobsons, a law firm in San Fernando. He said Ashmeed Ali and Company were the “instructing attorneys.” Newsday yesterday exclusively reported that Nelson was tipped to replace Jairam, as lead counsel.

Regarding the decision by Jairam and Toney to withdraw from representing the State, Howai said, “I fully understand the reasons for their decision.”

Jairam said his decision for doing so was prompted by the public’s perception that as Law Association president he should not have accepted the brief from the ministry. He insisted he did no wrong. A similar argument was put forward by Toney who said he felt uncomfortable that his integrity was being questioned because he agreed to represent the Finance Ministry.

Yesterday, several senior attorneys said there is no need for Jairam to step down as head of the association over the issue.