AG won’t speculate on resignations

However, Opposition Senator Gerald Ramdeen insisted the resignations were connected to the debacle involving the appointment of former chief magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar as a High Court judge and her subsequent resignation. Ramdeen renewed his call for Chief Justice Ivor Archie and the remaining JLSC members to resign.

Commenting prior to the start of the Senate sitting, Al-Rawi said, “One does take note of the resignations following the recent publicity surrounding the workings of the JLSC.” The AG continued, “Constitutionally, we have a very careful distance from the JLSC. That is the Government.

We don’t propose to breach that in any form or fashion.” He said Government expects President Anthony Carmona would make haste in ensuring vacancies created by the resignations are filled.

“The workings of the JLSC are a very important aspect of our criminal justice system, our judicial system, our public service in so far as they appoint officers to the Solicitor-General’s Department and also the DPP’s Office.” Asked whether the resignations were appropriate given the Ayers-Caesar imbroglio and possible loss of confidence in the JLSC, Al-Rawi replied, “I don’t want to speculate”, adding, “It would be artificial to separate these resignations from the events which have recently unfolded.” Ramdeen said Stollmeyer and Hamel-Smith did what they ought to have done from the very beginning. “It is very clear they have recognised the loss of confidence the public and the legal profession expressed in the workings of the JLSC.” Ramdeen argued the resignations were linked not only to the Ayers-Caesar matter but also to, “the question of the appointments of the other members of the bench now.” He wondered, “How could other members (of the JLSC) who are responsible for what has taken place...when they were simply members...the person who was in charge of the JLSC...have not found it right to take any action to build any confidence in the administration of justice?” Ramdeen said the resignations, “lay more of a foundation for the Chief Justice to go.” Saying all persons who questioned these appointments have been vindicated, Ramdeen said this was a call for constitutional reform, examining how judges are appointed and whether the JLSC should be involved in such appointments. He also said no solution has been found legislatively or legally to deal with the 53 matters which Ayers-Caesar was handling when she was appointed a judge.

Contacted in London by Newsday, Mendes said yesterday, “There is nothing to comment on.” He said the statement pertaining to the resignations indicated Stollmeyer and Hamel- Smith resigned for personal reasons.

Mendes said he was not going behind that statement.