Attorney-General (AG) Basil Williams SC yesterday made it clear that acting Chancellor Yonette Cummings-Edwards never asked him to respond to Justice Franklyn Holder’s complaint about his conduct.
Williams, in a brief statement issued yesterday, when he also released all correspondences between himself and acting Chancellor on the matter, said she must have been “mistaken” if she thought that she had asked him to respond to the judge’s letter.
Williams’ disclosure follows a statement to the press that was issued on Thursday by the acting Chancellor, who said a copy of Justice Holder’s letter was sent to Williams by her “for his information, guidance and any response. To date Mr Williams SC has not directly responded to that letter.”
In a letter, dated March 24th, 2017 and addressed to Williams, Justice Cummings-Edwards wrote, “I forward herewith the attached letter from Mr. Justice Franklyn Holder. For your information.” There is nothing in the letter asking for a response to the judge’s letter.
On the same date, Justice Cummings-Edwards also wrote President David Granger, stating, “I forward herewith a report from Mr. Justice Franklyn Holder on a matter that transpired in Court on 23rd March, 2017, involving the Honourable Attorney General Mr. Basil Williams. S.C, M.P.
“I bring to your Excellency’s attention the caption ‘AG threatened Judge’ on the online news “Citizens Report” and in the printed media (Kaieteur News). The reports are damaging to both the judiciary and brings the office of the Attorney- General into disrepute.
“I am obliged as acting Chancellor of the Judiciary to bring to your attention the letter from Justice Holder and the current state of affairs.
“I have sent a copy of the report from Justice Franklyn Holder to the Honourable Attorney General.”
Williams, in the brief statement accompanying the correspondences, said that after perusing the documents one can observe that “there was no request for a response from the Attorney General to the Chancellor” and that she must be “mistaken” if she thought otherwise.
However, Williams, in a letter to Justice Cummings-Edwards, dated April 19th, 2017, attached two copies of his response to the president, who had asked him for an explanation after being notified of Justice Holder’s complaint by the Chancellor.
“I have also attached clippings of newspapers which were spawned by Mr Anil Nandlall’s putrid allegation against my unblemished character and the contents of Justice Holder’s letter of complaint,” he added.
Monday is fixed for a continuation of the case, which led to the complaint against Williams. In his complaint to the Chancellor, Justice Holder had described the AG’s conduct as despicable and said that he would not be hearing him in any matter unless there is an apology in open court.
The AG on the other hand, in his reply to the president, has said that he didn’t have anything to apologise for and he had suggested that the judge should recuse himself from hearing the case.
It is now left to be seen what will transpire on Monday when the court is convened.
