The opposition PPP yesterday said that it expects fairness from the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in respect of the review of high-profile charges filed by the state and two PPP/C MPs.
In a statement, the PPP noted the expectation expressed by the Government that the DPP would review the private criminal charges filed by PPP/C MPs Juan Edghill and Vickram Bharrat against Ministers Volda Lawrence and George Norton for Misconduct in Public Office Contrary to Common Law.
This expectation was expressed by Attorney General Basil Williams SC at a press conference on Saturday.
The PPP said it is aware that a similar request was made by former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall for a review to be done to the criminal charges filed against former PPP/C Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh and former Chief Executive Officer of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Ltd, Winston Brassington. Thus far, the DPP has not acceded to this request, the PPP said.
The party said that it recalled that the DPP did not intervene when “frivolous” private criminal charges were filed against former President, Bharrat Jagdeo, two years ago, by Christopher Ram.
“Whatever actions the DPP takes, the PPP expects it to be fair, even-handed and non-discriminatory”, the party said.
On Saturday, Williams said government expects Director of Public Prosecutions Shalimar Ali-Hack to review the “political” private charges brought by the opposition members against Lawrence and Dr Norton.
“It is an aberration to the rule of law, an insult to good governance and an abuse of the process of the court to allow such unsubstantiated recourse to our justice system based solely on malice, whim and caprice and no evidence of criminality on the part of the Ministers, Ms. Volda Lawrence and Dr. George Norton, contended by the investigatory and prosecutorial agencies of the State,” Williams told a press conference in the boardroom of the Attorney General’s Chambers, where he read from a prepared statement.
