6 days ago
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Former Trinidad and Tobago Central Bank governor Dr. Alvin Hilaire is seeking nearly $9.8 million in damages over what he describes as an “orchestrated plot” to unlawfully remove him from office.
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Hilaire, who was dismissed in June and replaced by former finance minister Larry Howai, told the Express on Tuesday that discussions initiated by the State toward an out-of-court settlement have so far been “inconclusive.”
“As a result, proceedings will be commenced in the High Court on my behalf seeking material declarations and orders against the State, including damages,” Hilaire said via WhatsApp.
His legal team, which includes attorney Imran Ali, former prime minister Stuart Young, SC, and Anthony Bullock, has issued a pre-action protocol letter dated July 2, 2025 to Attorney General John Jeremie and the Cabinet Secretariat. The letter argues that Cabinet’s decision to advise the President to revoke Hilaire’s appointment was “illegal, null, void and of no effect,” and motivated by political reasons rather than lawful grounds.
According to the six-page letter, Minister of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development Kennedy Swaratsingh visited Hilaire at the Central Bank on June 24, 2025, and told him the Government wanted him to step down immediately. Swaratsingh allegedly offered Hilaire full compensation for the remainder of his term if he resigned.
Hilaire questioned how such funds would be sourced, noting that the Central Bank’s budget had no provision for such a payout, and that its board of directors would need to approve any variation. The minister reportedly replied that State finances would cover the settlement, with his authorization as Minister in the Ministry of Finance.
The letter claims Swaratsingh pressed Hilaire to instruct the Bank’s Human Resources Department to calculate the payout, saying an accompanying letter from the Attorney General would confirm the transfer of funds “as soon as possible.” When Hilaire resisted and sought legal advice, the minister allegedly returned with a signed letter from the Attorney General urging him again to resign. Hilaire refused, and by 7 p.m. that day, was served a formal notice of revocation of his appointment.
The attorneys contend that the termination was unlawful, with no basis for the advice given to the President that Hilaire was guilty of misconduct or had failed in his duties under the Central Bank Act.
“Instead, Dr. Hilaire’s case is that he was the victim of a clearly orchestrated plot to illegally procure his resignation from the office of Governor and, failing that, to illegally terminate his appointment as Governor,” the letter stated.
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The Government had cited Hilaire’s refusal to have the Auditor General audit the Central Bank’s accounts as “the last straw,” according to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. But the letter said Hilaire had explained that the Auditor General ceased to be the Bank’s auditor in 2024 at the Auditor General’s own request. An alternative auditor, BDO Trinidad and Tobago, was appointed in line with procurement rules and with the approval of then-finance minister Colm Imbert.
The attorneys stressed that BDO has no links to Angus Young, a relative of a government minister, as alleged, and insisted that all statutory procedures were followed.
They argued that Hilaire’s dismissal was:
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contrary to law and outside the powers of the Central Bank Act
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in breach of natural justice and constitutional rights
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carried out in bad faith and for political purposes
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unreasonable, irrational, and an abuse of power
The letter concluded that the termination was “null, void and of no effect,” and demanded $9,866,303.40 in damages, as well as compensation for emotional distress and breach of constitutional rights.
The attorneys also requested payment of Hilaire’s legal costs. Cabinet was given 14 days to respond, failing which the matter will proceed to the courts.
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