New Attorney General Basil Williams says he believes he should have been made a senior counsel ever since and he asserted that his record as a legal practitioner over 33 years has been unblemished.
In an interview with Stabroek News, Williams was responding to questions about the post of AG and Ministry of Legal Affairs now having been held in succession by persons who were not senior counsel. Traditionally, AGs have been Senior Counsel prior to appointment. He was also asked about the view that his predecessor, Anil Nandlall had brought the office into disrepute by virtue of a scandalous telephone conversation which became public last year and about the need therefore to ensure that the image of the office is preserved.
Williams said that in his 33 years of practice, no allegation has been made against him that he is corrupt, does drugs or does not have a clean character in his legal practice. He said that although the former AG had previous issues that may have brought his office into disrepute, “I don’t have those things to worry about. I have never had those problems in my life…” He noted that in every public office there must be integrity which something that is high on his agenda.
Asked about any negative perceptions, the recording he was allegedly on several years ago may cause him now as AG, he said that there was no criminality involved nor did the Guyana Bar Association call for him to be disqualified.
“Even if you say it is Basil Williams, is it a crime for Basil Williams a senior lawyer to talk with the police commissioner?” he questioned, before adding that the leader of the then opposition, the public and the diplomatic community did not seriously consider the tape as “making any sense.”
Williams hinted that in keeping with regional and international customs, he would like to be bestowed with Senior Counsel status. He said that the disregard of his nomination in the past to be a senior counsel was “political.”
“Now that there is a change of government we will obviously have to look at that situation and we will go accordingly with the advice of the Chancellor and the relevant authorities and the criteria in this regard,” he said. He noted that the length of time at the bar, the nominee’s professional integrity and public acclaim are among the things that have to be taken into consideration.
“Of course there are countries that provide that once you are Attorney General you are made Queen’s Counsel, Senior Counsel,” he said adding that previously there was a case here where an Attorney General was made senior counsel when he was appointed. Such occurrences, he added have also happened regionally.
Asked whether he believes he meets the criteria mentioned he said “as I said to you I ought to have been a senior counsel ever since…” He added that he has a clear record in the local bar, has almost 33 years’ experience in criminal and civil law and as such is aptly qualified for the office he now holds.
In May of last year the Office of the Chancellor of the Judiciary issued an invitation for attorneys-at-law desirous of being elevated to Senior Counsel to apply, however that process appears to have been abandoned.
As a result of his new appointment, Williams said that he will no longer be involved in private practice but will still be able to carry out his party duties. “I am a politician. I am the chairman of the PNCR…,” he said.
