Attorney Anil Nandlall today rapped Grenadian Queen’s Counsel, Dr Francis Alexis for remarks attributed to him in today’s Guyana Chronicle that a PPP appeal to the Caribbean Court of Justice over a Guyana Court of Appeal ruling has no “real prospect of success”.
An edited statement issued by Nandlall follows:
Today’s Sunday Edition of the Guyana Chronicle’s, lead headline loudly screams, `Dr. Francis Alexis, QC says PPP/C appeal to the CCJ has no real prospect of success’. Dr. Alexis is indeed a decorated legal scholar. He is a former lecturer of law at the University of the West Indies, a former Attorney General of Grenada, a Queen’s Counsel and a lawyer of over four decades standing. Importantly, he currently holds the position of Deputy Chairman of the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission. The Chairman of this body is ex officio the President of the Caribbean Court of Justice, Justice Adrian Saunders.
The stated mission of the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission is to appoint judges of the Caribbean Court of Justice.
It is common knowledge that the Eslyn David v Chief Election Officer matter is pending, on appeal, to the Caribbean Court of Justice. Its hearing is scheduled to take place on July, 1, next Wednesday.
Over the centuries that English Law has evolved, evolving with it, have been certain doctrines commonly called “conventions”. With the passage of time, they have graduated to assimilate the force of law and indeed, form an integral part of the body corpus of English Law. These conventions supplement the law to protect institutions of the law, the legal system itself, the rule of law and cannons of fundamental justice.
When the British Legal System was embedded in Her Majesty’s colonies so were those conventions, deeply ingrained. When these colonies were granted independence, some of these conventions were codified in the independent constitutions of these territories. However, those conventions that were not codified, still form part of the rule of law in these territories. Guyana and the Caribbean are among those territories whose legal systems evolved in the manner just outlined.
One of these conventions is that lawyers who sit on bodies that appoint Judges should not appear before those Judges. A logical corollary of this principle is that they should not make any public statement, adopt any posture or commit any acts which may be viewed as influencing, or intending to influence, litigation pending before Judges whom they have appointed or have a responsibility to appoint. This convention is grounded deeply in the doctrine of natural justice and forms part of that network of principles that protects and ensures judicial independence and fundamental justice. Dr. Alexis, in my respectful view, has egregiously violated these principles. Not only has he made a public statement but has expressed his legal opinion on how the case should be decided, exposing himself to the obvious accusation that he is attempting to prejudice the outcome of the proceedings. An ordinary citizen who violates the sub judice doctrine is likely to be hauled before the courts for contempt. Dr. Alexis is not an ordinary citizen, in this regard.
I know that apologists for APNU/AFC will rush to cite the public remarks made by Prime Minister Mia Mottley, QC. There is simply no basis for comparison. Ms. Mottley made absolutely no reference to the legal proceedings, but simply spoke on matters that are in the public domain which she has a right to do, in any free society. If Dr. Alexis wishes to remain a respected jurist, he must withdraw his remarks with an appropriately worded statement admitting this gross misadventure. It is this type of conduct which fuels the fears of those Caribbean citizens who cling desperately to Her Majesty’s Privy Council.
Speaking for myself, I am assured by my belief in the integrity and independence of the CCJ. I take solace from the fact that the CCJ had no difficulty in rejecting Dr. Alexis’s argument in the Guyana Court of Appeal, in the No-Confidence Motion cases, where he submitted that the term “majority” means “absolute majority” in Article 106 of the Constitution of Guyana. Similarly, to think that “votes” in Article 177 of the Constitution means anything other than “valid votes” is simply tautologous, as the framers of the Constitution obviously recognize that the legislative scheme which governs the electoral process ensures the weeding out of invalid votes, prior to counting. Therefore, what are counted or recounted are only valid votes. The layman understands this much, more so, Judges of the highest Court in the Region.
