The Bow Tie affair

THE Law Association has noted with dismay the April 25 exclusion from the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court of Senior Counsel Fyard Hosein. Chief Magistrate Sherman Mc Nicolls ejected Hosein from his court for wearing a bow tie during the preliminary inquiry into charges relating to the construction of the Piarco Airport Terminal building.

Hosein was forced to leave the court for the day while American witness Raimundo Levi was testifying.

According to the Law Association, court attire for attorneys is governed by Practice Direction dated December 8, 1986. The Practice Direction requires an attorney appearing in Chamber Court to wear sober attire but does not specify a tie ought to be worn by male attorneys.

The Law Association pointed out that it has long been the practice in the legal profession that court attire in the Magistrates’ Court be equivalent to that of the Chamber High Court.

“The Association can find no fault with Mr. Hosein’s attire having had the benefit of seeing his photograph (in Newsday) which was taken immediately after his expulsion. The Association regards the wearing of a bow tie as a mark of great respect and we are disappointed that the Chief Magistrate took it in any other light,” the association’s secretary Patricia Dindyal added.

She continued, “the Association maintains the position that the treatment of Mr. Hosein by the Chief Magistrate was unfortunate and had the effect of detracting from, rather than enhancing, the dignity of the court.”