Oswald Wilson dies

Wilson, a lawyer, suffered two strokes in August and was unable to return to his practice as a consequence. Wilson who was admitted to the bar in 1954, served in several capacities during his long career in public life.

He was an Assistant Crown Solicitor (1955-65); former President of the Civil Service Association (1961-65); President of the Law Society (1973-86); member of the Public Service Appeals Board (1976-1982); member of the Registration, Recognition and Certification Board (1972-1982); member of the Legal Aid and Advisory Authority (1977-1986); Chairman of Workers Bank (1978-1989) and member of the EBC (1977-December 2005).

Wilson took over as EBC chairman after the death of Sir Issac Hyatali on December 6, just before the 2000 election. In fact, Wilson was appointed chairman by former president ANR Robinson on the day of Hyatali’s funeral. It was during his first year as chairman that allegations of voter-padding and voter impersonation emerged shortly after the UNC’s 2000 victory.

Under relentless pressure from both the PNM and the population, the EBC under Wilson’s stewardship, faced another general election a year later. Wilson confirmed that there was an unusually high movement of voters into the marginal constituencies. He also announced that a list of names had been submitted to the police for further investigation. Some persons were subsequently charged. But by then the image of the EBC had been tarnished somewhat. So much so that the confidence of former president Arthur N R Robinson was shaken. When Robinson tried to fire one of the commissioners — Raoul John, Wilson stood up to Robinson. When Robinson appointed Patrick Manning as Prime Minister after an 18-18 tie in the 2001 election, the PNM government immediately established a Commission of Inquiry into the functioning of the EBC.

It was the first time that the EBC, an independent body, was being subjected to the intense scrutiny of a Commission of Inquiry. The Deyalsingh led-Commission of Inquiry’s report included some 23 recommendations, including a call for the resignations of the EBC commissioners. But the EBC, led by Wilson fought back. It successfully sought judicial review of the Commission of Inquiry’s report.