Attorney General Reginald Armour has denied claims that he refused to pay for the legal fees of the Auditor General as she sought advice on Sections of the Exchequer and Audit Act.

Reading from a letter he sent to Auditor General Jaiwantee Ramdass at a news conference this afternoon, AG Armour said he advised that Ms. Ramdass seek independent counsel, the cost of which he agreed to pay.

He further explained that he could not provide advice to Ms. Ramdass as he was already advising the Minister of Finance, adding that to do so would have been inappropriate.

The matter relates to the impasse between the Auditor General’s office and the Ministry of Finance with regards to an understatement in the country’s financial records for 2023. 

Ms Ramdass filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, asking the court for an urgent hearing as she seeks several declarations, including her rights to protection of the law and not to be deprived of such procedural provisions as necessary. She is being represented by Anand Ramlogan.

In a letter dated April 17, Ms Ramdass asked the AG to clarify whether the Auditor General is required to consider the amended budget statements in light of the provisions of sections 24 and 25 of the Exchequer and Audit Act.

Reading his response from a letter dated April 19, AG Armour said, “I recommend that with all appropriate urgency, you should retain independent counsel to give you such advice. I give the undertaking that as Attorney General, I am prepared to pay reasonable fees incurred by you as auditor general for the retention and obtaining of that independent advice.”

He said reports that he denied the payment of her legal fees were “erroneous, or worse, deliberately intended to mislead.”