Judge won’t recuse himself

Yesterday, the judge gave a ruling in the San Fernando High Court stating a suggestion he had made in a previous case, for the Integrity Commission (IC) to consider investigating an employment relationship between Warner and his former secretary while he was a minister in Government, ought not to raise doubts about his (Seepersad) impartiality.

Justice Seepersad adjudicated last year in a case against the TT Football Federation (TTFF). The TTFF, Warner and Local Organising Committee (LOC) South Africa 2010 Limited were sued by Graphix Advantage Limited, for monies owed.

Imamuddin Baksh, managing director of Graphix Advantage Ltd, testified that he worked for Warner who was then a Government minister, as his secretary, but on a gratuitous basis.

His company received a contract from the LOC, to provide signage for the 2010 Under 17 Women’s World Cup hosted in Trinidad.

Justice Seepersad ruled against the TTFF, but did not find Warner personally liable to pay the monies.

In fact, the judge found that there was no case established against Warner but commented that public officers must always jealously guard the integrity of their office and that the acceptance of gratuitous labour, by holders of high office, was unacceptable. He suggested the Integrity Commission may have to investigate further.

Justice Seepersad is currently adjudicating in a case filed by Reynold Ricardo Bahadoor, through Senior Counsel Anand Ramlogan, against the Sunshine Publishing Company. But the Sunshine filed an application last November requesting that Justice Seepersad recuse himself because of his comments made in the Graphix Arts judgement.

In delivering a 14-page judgement yesterday on the issue, Justice Seepersad stated that there is no connectivity with the Graphix Arts case and the Libel case and there was no attack on Warner, but for the employment arrangement.

The court, in the eyes of the public, Justice Seepersad stated, would not be looked upon as not having a fair-minded approach to sitting in judgement in the present lawsuit against the Sunshine Publishing Company.

He dismissed the case seeking his recusal and ordered the Sunshine Publishing