Lucky: JLSC needs more resources

POINTE-A-PIERRE MP Gillian Lucky yesterday advised Government to provide whatever resources the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC) requires in order to help to ensure a higher level of accountability to the population from Supreme Court judges and magistrates. Speaking in Parliament last Friday, Attorney General John Jeremie said Government would amend certain sections of the Integrity in Public Life Act 2000 and the Constitution in order to achieve this objective.

Jeremie added that Government would seek the Opposition’s support in passing “the appropriate amending legislation.” Opposition Chief Whip Ganga Singh said the UNC would be willing to support Government on the issue. In supporting Jeremie and Singh’s views, Lucky told Newsday it was incumbent on the nation’s policy-makers to avoid letting political agendas cloud the issue at hand. She said it would be “a slap in the face” if unconstitutional provisions are left in the law on a critical subject such as integrity in public life. “We have to do it right,” the UNC MP stated. Noting that the JLSC was the body which had oversight of the country’s judicial officers, Lucky suggested that Government examine what it could do to provide additional resources to the JLSC so that it could better enforce appropriate reporting requirements for judicial officers. The UNC MP said a constitutional provision could be crafted for the President to appoint, via the JLSC, the additional personnel it requires. She noted that there are similar systems in the United Kingdom in disciplinary committees for lawyers.

Lucky suggested that in the spirit of cooperation, Government should provide the Opposition with copies of the legal advice it sought on this particular matter. The AG said Government’s decision was based on views from the JLSC chairman (Chief Justice Sat Sharma), the Integrity Commission, a former Chief Justice, several senior counsel (local and foreign) and even editorials in the daily press. The JLSC is appointed in accordance with Section 110 of the Constitution, and its members hold office with Section 136 of the Constitution. While it is unclear exactly what measures are used by the JLSC to ensure the accountability of judicial officers, the AG said, “Cabinet has concluded, however, that the reporting requirements in the present law are not the way to call judicial officers to account.” Government officials yesterday reiterated the AG’s commitment to have the necessary amending legislation brought to Parliament as expeditiously as possible. While declining to say what additional resources would be provided to the JLSC, the officials indicated that all possible avenues would be explored.