Former Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago Mr Anand Ramlogan, who is representing the House of Assembly, Government of the Virgin Islands, through the law firm, Veritas Law, was arrested at the Piarco International Airport in Trinidad and Tobago this morning, May 1, 2019. Photo: Trinidad & Tobago Guardian

Speaker of the Virgin Islands House of Assembly, Honourable Julian Willock, has reaffirmed his full confidence in Veritas Law, headed by Mr. Valston M. Graham, despite the arrest of one of its lawyers in Trinidad and Tobago today, May 1, 2019. Photo: GIS/File

Mr Mark H. Vanterpool was elected to represent the Fourth District in the General Elections on February 25, 2019 but resigned days after. He is now seeking to be sworn in the Virgin Islands House of Assembly. Photo: VINO/File

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad & Tobago- Just a day before a final ruling is expected to be made in the High Court of the Virgin Islands regarding the legal battle between Speaker of the Virgin Islands House of Assembly Honourable Julian Willock and Fourth District Representative-Elect Mr Mark H. Vanterpool, one of the attorneys in the case has been arrested.

Former Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago Mr Anand Ramlogan, who is representing the House of Assembly, Government of the Virgin Islands, through the law firm, Veritas Law, was arrested at the Piarco International Airport in Trinidad and Tobago this morning, May 1, 2019.

A statement released by the House of Assembly today, May 1, 2019, acknowledged learning of Mr Ramlogan’s arrest.

Mr Ramlogan was reportedly about to leave the country to pursue legal matters overseas.

According to Trinidad and Tobago Newsday, the arrest comes one day after Mr Ramlogan appeared in the Port of Spain Magistrates’ Court in the ongoing preliminary inquiry into charges laid in 2017 for allegedly perverting the course of public justice and misbehaviour in public office.

Court saga

Hon Willock and Mr Vanterpool are scheduled to appear before Justice Ann Marie-Smith tomorrow, Thursday May 2, 2019, when Justice Marie-Smith is expected to deliver final judgment as to whether she deemed Mr Vanterpool's letter of resignation invalid. Justice Marie-Smith will also be addressing the matter of legal costs following the rejection of Mr Vanterpool’s application for Judicial Review.

Mr Vanterpool was elected to represent the Fourth District in the General Elections on February 25, 2019 but resigned days after. His resignation was accepted by Speaker of the House Honourable Willock after it was forwarded to him by the HOA Clerk.

However, Mr Vanterpool suddenly had a change of heart and indicated his interest to be sworn in to the HOA.

After Hon Willock refused to have him sworn in Mr Vanterpool moved to the courts seeking leave for a Judicial Review, after also filing for an Injunction, which he lost on April 2, 2019.

Hon Willock has ‘full confidence’ in law firm

Meanwhile, the House of Assembly’s statement following the reports of Mr Ramlogan’s arrest expressed confidence in the legal team representing Honourable Willock.

“Following the decision by Hon. Mark H. Vanterpool to take the Speaker of the Virgin Islands’ House of Assembly to court over the Speaker’s decision to accept his resignation letter of 5th March, 2019, the Government of the Virgin Islands, through the House of Assembly retained the local law firm of Veritas Law. The firm has four lawyers, plus a paralegal directly involved in the case, in addition to others providing legal advice.”

The statement further read that the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Julian Willock “has reaffirmed his full confidence in Veritas Law, headed by Mr. Valston M. Graham and that value for money is still being achieved, one of the objectives of the new government.”

“The issue surrounding one of the lawyers involved in the case, as reported by the media, both locally and regionally on 1st May, 2019 has also been noted.”