ATTORNEY General John Jeremie yesterday slammed the previous People’s National Movement (PNM) government for spending $1 million, including “cheese paste and champagne”, to open the Central Block at the Port of Spain General Hospital before the facility was equipped for basic services.Jeremie was speaking in the Parliament during the Government’s motion to adopt the report of the Standing Finance Committee.He claimed the PNM had attempted to mislead the country about the delivery of services, including the Central Block. Jeremie said at the time of the opening ceremony (March 2025) the facility held a certificate of practical project completion. He said this meant that the actual completion was still “somewhere in sight”. Jeremie said three quarters of the previous Cabinet attended the opening ceremony, which had cost around $1 million.The AG said the money was spent on cheese paste, champagne and other items. He said meanwhile, construction continued on the structure for months afterwards.Jeremie said some 10,000 items and pieces of apparatus still had to be installed at the time of the opening.He reported there were no beds and no medication, and if someone had been struck with a headache at the event, there was no Panadol in the building. Jeremie said the plumbing was not completed at the time and the bathrooms could not be used.The AG also said “it’s their fault”, in pointing to several downgrades in Trinidad and Tobago’s international economic standing in recent years.He defended the United National Congress’ (UNC) handling of the economy, placing blame for several aspects of economic downturn in recent years at the feet of the previous administration and former finance minister Colm Imbert.Jeremie criticised the PNM’s spending of taxpayer monies, later accusing the Opposition of trying to mislead the population about the Government’s fiscal measures including increased fines on a range sectors, which the AG emphasised were not taxes but penalties connected to breaking the law.Jeremie claimed the Opposition was trying to instil fear and anger in the population.Law for all The Attorney General again underscored that the Government would not facilitate the imbalance of justice and that the laws of the land applied to all.Jeremie said he stood by previous statements that no one was above the law, regardless of who they are and any affiliations to banks, prime ministers and other “links”.He said the culture of the other side was that different rules applied to different people. Jeremie said “their culture when they object to something is to riot”, stating that recently there were elements of “Sixx and Seven” (local gangs) looking to join with the other side to “rumble”.“Their supporters don’t understand the difference between breaking the law and abiding by the law,” Jeremie said.Accusing the Opposition of “ignorance” and of inciting fear and tension, the AG said a member on the other bench had also sought to do so in the most “loathsome and repugnant ways”.