(Trinidad Express) Prime Minister Patrick Manning has refused to accept the offer by Attorney General John Jeremie to resign.

Jeremie reportedly made the offer to Manning late last week, after the Law Association passed a resolution of no confidence in him.

Expressing his full confidence in Jeremie to perform his duties, Manning said on Monday that he was satisfied that the resolution of no confidence in the Attorney General passed by the Law Association on July 1 was “politically motivated”.

“I wish to applaud the Attorney General for the stand he has taken in offering his resignation and hereby advise that I have decided not to accept it. I also take the opportunity to publicly reaffirm my confidence in him,” Manning said in a statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister.

Manning’s decision marked the second time in 26 years that a Prime Minister has refused to accept either a resignation, either offered or tendered, by an Attorney General after a no confidence resolution passed by the Law Association.

In 1983, then Attorney General Russell Martineau, SC, tendered his resignation to then Prime Minister George Chambers, who refused to accept it, after the Law Association passed a similar resolution.

Manning had told reporters on Friday that Jeremie offered his resignation but did not tender it. Jeremie was in London at the time and Manning said as soon he returned they would discuss the matter. Jeremie returned home late Sunday afternoon.