Smart was Attorney General during the 1990 attempted coup when the Jamaat al Muslimeen attempted to overthrow the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. Smart, who was at the Red House attending a cocktail party, disguised himself to escape being held hostage during the event. He was the only elected member of the government to escape capture on the first day during the initial hostage taking in the Parliament Chamber on July 27, 1990 - other members were released five to six days later.