Dear Editor,
It is ironic that the conduct of the Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs in Justice Holder’s court took place during the hearing of the suspension of the holder of an independent constitutional office by the President acting on the advice of his next in command, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo. It is public knowledge that the President called in Carvil Duncan, the Chairman of the Public Service Commission, a member of the Judicial Service Commission and the Police Service Commission. He admitted demanding his resignation from these commissions, asserting at the same time that he did not want blood spilled upon his carpet.
How constitutionally proper or improper the President’s action was, is best answered by the legal luminaries. After this meeting Duncan was charged by the police and was acquitted of one charge. The other one is pending.
The further irony is that the President repeatedly states he has no control over the place!
It is unknown if Justice Holder’s court is fitted with carpet, but the accusations/complaints made by him and the Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs seem to have left one of them with a bloodied nose.
Seeking the intervention of the President has certainly exposed the judiciary as a whole as a cowering arm of the state in violation of the concept of the separation of powers.
The judiciary is supposed to be an independent arm of the State and the suspension of an office holder, ie Duncan, may explain the action of the Chancellor (ag). She may be excused for thinking that if he can be suspended she can suffer the same fate if the judges were to sanction the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs.
The final irony is that the PPP/C government, alleged to be guilty of executive lawlessness by the APNU and AFC in opposition, fined a senior Minister who was also an executive member of his party. Did I hear double standards?
Yours faithfully,
Dr Roger Luncheon
