Govt advances Court solution for Marcia’s 53 cases

Young told reporters at the post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s, that Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley obtained independent advice from senior counsels that this is the best option to resolve this matter.

He said the Cabinet agreed to support this option.

Young said in this summons, “We will basically lay the facts out as we know it, via affidavit, to the High Court and we will set out what are the various provisions of the existing law that apply and we will then invite the High Court to make a decision and to come to a conclusion as to how these 53 cases should be dealt with going forward.” He said interested parties who wished to intervene in these proceedings could make submissions to the Judiciary which, “will have management of this matter in having it dealt with as expeditiously as possible.” Young said once the summons was filed, the population would then see if anyone tried to derail it by “playing politics.” Young said Government was leaving the resolution in the remit of the Judiciary and, contrary to claims from the Opposition, the appointment of a tribunal under Section 137 of the Constitution would not resolve the concerns of people affected by the 53 cases being stuck in the magistracy.

Young said there was an appeal process all the way up to the Privy Council and it was possible for the matter to be resolved within a short time. He said litigation between Ayers Caesar and the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, would not affect these proceedings.