…says Thomas, Retemyer holding posts unlawfully
Although the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) Act came into force since May 11, 2017, SARA remains mired in deep controversy, according to former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall.

Nandlall reminded that several questions raised even before the Bill was tabled in the National Assembly by a wide cross-section of society, including, the parliamentary Opposition, to date remained unanswered.
Expectedly, within one month of the Bill’s enactment, legal proceedings were launched challenging the constitutionality of several of the provisions of the controversial SARA legislation. These proceedings are still pending in the Constitutional Division of the High Court.

The Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) said if this challenge was successful, then everything that SARA would have done would become legally questionable, including the impending charges. “It would be interesting to see how the Government will navigate these technical legal issues,” he stated.
Pointing to some clear loopholes in the transitionary period, Nandlall claimed that the persons who currently hold the position of Director and Deputy Director of the agency, Professor Clive Thomas and Aubrey Retemyer respectively, seem to be holding those posts unlawfully.
“Having regard to the track record of the coalition Government, these persons are obviously enjoying handsome remuneration packages. The public is unaware of what these packages are, although public funds are being utilised to finance them,” he explained.
