Ramdeen calls on JLSC to account

At a media conference yesterday at the Hyatt Regency in Portof- Spain, he said a recent elevation to the Court of Appeal raised questions in the public domain, the legal profession and the Judiciary.

He also disclosed that five new appointments to the Supreme Court, are expected to be made by the JLSC, and he is deeply concerned.

“The Judiciary is the institution where people go every day to determine their rights and obligations. Taxpayers are giving the JLSC $400 million a year. What is the system of accounting for that money? What have the people gotten for the $400 million given to the Judiciary for this financial year and years gone by,” he asked.

He questioned the competency of the impending appointments.

“There are two magistrates said to be appointed to the Supreme Court. There is a civil practitioner with little or no experience in civil law and a former registrar who are going to be appointed to the Supreme court bench,” Ramdeen said.

“As citizens, we all have a duty to ensure when appointments like these are made they are done in the most transparent and accountable manner,” he added. Ramdeen claimed many members of the Judiciary are extremely upset about what is going on as people qualified and deserving of appointments are being by-passed.

He also said this was the first year 36 persons applied for positions as judges of the Supreme Court and it was also the first time Chief Justice Ivor Archie, as head of the JLSC, has implemented a written exam for prospective candidates.

“Who sets that exam? Who marks the exam? Where is it in the Constitution that the JLSC has the authority to set an exam,” Ramdeen asked.

“I don’t think citizens understand the power that is vested in the office of a Supreme Court Judge. A Supreme Court Judge has the power to send you to execution and the power to stop an execution.

It is one of the most powerful positions anyone can hold in a democracy. As a member of the legal profession, I will not stand and allow any JLSC to appoint people who, on an objective examination, are not deserving.” Ramdeen intends to write the JLSC chairman asking for the criteria used for appointments to the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.