Anand Ramlogan

Early life and education

Ramlogan was born in Ben Lomond, San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago, on 26 August 1972.

Ramlogan obtained his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill campus, in Barbados.

He later pursued postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom, earning a Master of Laws (LL.M.) with distinction in Public Law from the University of London.

Legal career

Ramlogan is a founder and senior counsel of the Freedom Law Chambers in San Fernando. The Freedom Law Chambers became known for handling complex public interest litigation and important legal matters, including various high-profile constitutional and human rights cases before local and regional courts, including the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council and the Caribbean Court of Justice.

Ramlogan is a member of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple (U.K.) and the holder of an L.L.B. degree and a master's in corporate and commercial law. He frequently appears in leading cases for or against the state in the superior courts, including the London-based final appellate court, the Privy Council, where he has argued numerous appeals. His recent cases in the Privy Council include:

• Maharaj v The Cabinet of Trinidad [2023] UKPC 17, in which Ravi Balgobin Maharaj challenged the government's decision to postpone local government elections. In a historic judgment, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council ruled against the government, thereby forcing the Prime Minister to call the elections. The term of office of representatives had come to an end in December 2023.
• JM v The Attorney General [2022] UKPC 54 - This case concerned a child who was tortured and sexually abused at a home for children. It was the first time in legal history that the state was found to have subjected a child to cruel and unusual punishment because of the living conditions they were made to endure from the age of 12 years. The child was awarded two million for the breach of their constitutional rights, which included one million for vindicatory damages - the largest sum ever.
• Akili Charles v The Attorney General [2022] UKPC - This landmark case challenged a law that prohibited bail for murder. In a unanimous decision, the Privy Council ruled that such a law was unconstitutional, thereby paving the way for persons accused of murder to apply for bail, though only in cases where the accused does not pose a threat to society.
• Akili Charles v The Attorney General [2022] UKPC 49 - The state was ordered to pay the legal costs of a re-trial because it was the author of the "colossal misstep" that affected numerous prisoners, who had been awaiting trial for over a decade.
• A&A Mechanical v Petroleum Company of Trinidad - This was a multi-million-dollar commercial dispute which resulted in the national oil company having to pay millions of dollars to a local contractor. It is now a leading case on the law on "without prejudice" communications in the context of commercial negotiations.

Private practice

He is an advocate known for representing clients in human rights, constitutional and public law cases, many of which have led to changes in Trinidad and Tobago law. He gives advice on a wide range of matters to public officials and lawyers in other Caribbean countries. He is admitted to practice in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Saint Lucia, and Anguilla.

His recent legal work includes successful challenges to the appointment of Gary Griffith as Commissioner of Police, constitutional challenges to the Proceeds of Crime Act and the property tax legislation which effectively prevented the government from implementing the property tax for over 5 years.

He has appeared in over 50 Privy Council appeals and has also appeared before the Caribbean Court of Justice.

Recent cases before the UK-based Judicial Committee of His Majesty's Privy Council (the highest court for Trinidad and Tobago) include:

• Challenging the decision to construct a highway through the Aripo Savannas Strict Nature Reserve, a unique ecosystem which was declared Environmentally Sensitive.
• Freedom of Information application against a national oil company to ascertain the basis for withdrawing a multi-billion dollar lawsuit by the new government.
• The composition of the Judicial & Legal Service Commission which is responsible for making judicial appointments.
• Challenging delay by the National Energy Corporation in providing information about the ethnicity of senior staff.
• Breach of the constitutional rights of children.
• Damages for breach of the right to equality of treatment.
• Unfair treatment regarding promotion in the police service.
• Denial of legal costs.

He has worked on numerous cases in the High Court and Court of Appeal in breach of contract, defamation, discrimination, police brutality, medical negligence, personal injuries and commercial law.

Political and journalistic activities

Ramlogan has served on various committees and statutory bodies, including the Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago, the Law Reform Commission, the Civil Aviation Authority, the Commission of Enquiry into the Administration of Justice and the Vision 2020 plan for Constitutional Reform.

Anand entered politics as a candidate for the Congress of the People (COP) under the leadership of Professor Winston Dookeran. He contested the seat for the constituency of Tabaquite in 2007 but subsequently re-joined the United National Congress after Kamla Persad-Bissessar was elected political leader. He was subsequently appointed a government senator and Attorney General.

Prior to his appointment as Attorney General, Ramlogan was a lawyer who had become known for representing clients in constitutional and public interest litigation. He also won many cases against the People's National Movement government for persons such as former San Fernando City Corporation CEO Marlene Coudray, Devant Maharaj, Feroza Ramjohn, George Daniel, and Damien Belfonte.

Ramlogan was also an active member of the media, hosted a radio talk show, was a columnist with the Sunday Guardian, the Express and the Newsday newspapers for many years, expressing his views on a wide range of legal, social and political issues.

Attorney General

On 26 May 2010, two days after the success of the People's Partnership in the 2010 General Election, Anand Ramlogan was appointed a Senator and Attorney General by Kamla Persad-Bissessar. During his tenure as Attorney General, he was associated with the implementation of Section 34 of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Act, which led to widespread public and political criticism after it was perceived to enable the early dismissal of corruption cases involving prominent businessmen.

In 2019, Ramlogan was charged with misconduct in public office. He maintained that he was the victim of political conspiracy. The charges were eventually dropped by the DPP after it was discovered that millions of dollars had been secretly paid by the new PNM Government to the prosecution's lone witness as part of an undisclosed illicit indemnity agreement. Former independent senator and president of the law association Martin Daly, SC said it was "akin to bounty hunting".

References

References

1. Richards, Chris. (2010-05-29). "Ramlogan sworn in as Attorney General". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian.
2. (May 28, 2010). "Anand Ramlogan sworn in as Attorney General". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian.
3. "Senator the Honourable Anand Ramlogan SC".
4. "Anand Ramlogan – Parliament".
5. "HEAD OF CHAMBERS – FLC".
6. Bagoo, Andre. (2012-10-17). "Ramlogan takes case to Privy Council". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.
7. Bagoo, Andre. (2012-10-17). "Ramlogan takes case to Privy Council". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.
8. "Freedom Law Chambers".
9. "Law - Queen Mary University of London".
10. Loutoo, Jada. (2023-05-19). "Privy Council: Local government extension wrong – LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE - Trinidad and Tobago Newsday".
11. "Ravi Balgobin Maharaj (Appellant) v The Cabinet of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and another (Respondents) (Trinidad and Tobago)".
12. Loutoo, Jada. (2022-12-19). "Privy Council restores $2m award for abused teen - Trinidad and Tobago Newsday".
13. Wilson, Sascha. "Privy Council upholds $2M award to teen victim for severe sex trauma at state facilities".
14. (20 December 2022). "Wake-up call for all".
15. Court, The Supreme. "Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago (Appellant) v Akili Charles (Respondent) No 2 (Trinidad and Tobago) - Judicial Committee of the Privy Council".
16. Ramdass, Rickie. (28 July 2022). "It's now the law: State loses appeal, murder accused can apply for bail".
17. Loutoo, Jada. (2022-07-28). "Ramlogan: Battle for bail was never about freeing criminals".
18. Loutoo, Jada. (2022-07-28). "Privy Council settles law, allows bail for murder".
19. Loutoo, Jada. (2022-12-08). "Privy Council awards $275,000 to murdered ex-murder accused - Trinidad and Tobago Newsday".
20. Achong, Derek. "Deceased ex-murder accused wins $.2M from state".
21. (9 December 2022). "'A COLOSSAL MISSTEP'".
22. Loutoo, Jada. (2022-11-03). "Privy Council: Petrotrin must pay contractor $4.8m - Trinidad and Tobago Newsday".
23. "Appointment of Gary Griffith as acting CoP null and void".
24. (2021-05-20). "Businessman, wife win challenge over $1m held under Proceeds of Crime Act".
25. (2022-01-14). "Appeal Court rules first property-tax collection exercise illegal".
26. "Doughty Street Chambers Profile View".
27. "Fishermen and Friends of the Sea v Environmental Management Authority and Others - [2018] UKPC 24".
28. "Fishermen and Friends of the Sea v Environmental Management Authority and others".
29. (2019-05-31). "Christopher Knight in Privy Council FOIA Appeal".
30. "Maharaj v Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd - [2019] UKPC 21".
31. "Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago v Maharaj (Trinidad and Tobago)".
32. Achong, Derek. "Privy Council rules JLSC not properly constituted".
33. (2019-01-31). "Devant wins at Privy Council".
34. "Equitable governance?".
35. Court, The Supreme. "Commissioner of Prisons and another (Respondents) v Seepersad and another (Appellants) (Trinidad and Tobago) - Judicial Committee of the Privy Council".
36. Court, The Supreme. "Central Broadcasting Services Ltd and another (Appellants) v The Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago (Respondent) (Trinidad and Tobago) - Judicial Committee of the Privy Council".
37. Court, The Supreme. "Seukeran Singh (Respondent) v Commissioner of Police (Appellant) (Trinidad and Tobago) - Judicial Committee of the Privy Council".
38. Court, The Supreme. "Singh (Appellant) v Public Service Commission (Respondent) (Trinidad and Tobago) - Judicial Committee of the Privy Council".
39. "Trinidad and Tobago Parliament".
40. "Ramlogan: No room for third party in T&T".
41. "Anand Ramlogan is AG".
42. Achong, Derek. "Privy Council: Revocation and veto by Manning unfair".
43. "Caribbean Mission Report".
44. Achong, Derek. (2012-10-01). "Section 34 fallout continues". Trinidad and Tobago Guardian.
45. Achong, Derek. (2020-10-10). "DPP discontinues corruption charges against Ramlogan".
46. (11 October 2022). "Egg on Govt's face".
47. (30 October 2022). "Questions that will not be silenced".
48. (15 October 2022). "Akin to bounty hunting".