CJ, the cause of the delays

THE LAWYERS representing Prime Minister Patrick Manning in the judicial review case filed against him in 2005, contended yesterday that the delays in getting the case off the ground was the fault of the Chief Justice Sat Sharma.
Douglas Mendes SC, Stuart Young, and Michael Quamina, issued a statement yesterday to clarify concerns raised in the print and electronic media about the delay in the progress of the case brought by Sharma on April 12, 2005.
Sharma is seeking judicial review of the decision of the Prime Minister to recommend to President George Maxwell Richards that a tribunal be established to investigate his conduct. This followed complaints from Attorney General John Jeremie and Director of Public Prosecutions Geoffrey Henderson. It was alleged that Sharma tried to influence Henderson to withdraw the murder charge laid against prominent vascular surgeon Dr Vijay Naraynsingh, who was charged with the murder of his second wife Chandra on June 29, 1994 in San Fernando. Dr Naraynsingh was discharged by deputy Chief Magistrate Mark Wellington in the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court in March 2005.
In their statement yesterday, the lawyers set out the chronology of events during the past 15 months where on July 6 this year, a date was finally set to start the judicial review case.
Hearing will take place before Justice Carlton Best between October 2 and 6 in the Port-of-Spain High Court.