Dear Editor,
I write in relation to the issue of the elevation of attorneys-at-law to the dignity of Senior Counsel, published in several editions of your newspaper.
I shall not treat with the basis of the exercise of the power by President Granger since that issue is sub-judice but assert that it was not unlawful as contended by Counsel Timothy Jonas, for not having the imprimatur of the Judiciary.
The Legal Profession is indebted to President David Granger for the restoration of the appointment of Senior Counsel.
President Granger restored the appointment of Senior Counsel in 2017 after a hiatus of around twenty-one years.
The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) during their twenty-three years in Government last appointed Senior Counsel in 1996: Messrs. Ralph Ramkarran, Charles Ramson, Ian Chang, Richard Fields, Moen McDoom, and Sam Brotherson, the latter four now deceased.
President Desmond Hoyte had appointed Silk in 1985 and as his then Legal Assistant, I have knowledge that the Judiciary had an integral role in those appointments.
I therefore contend that since 1980 the appointment of Senior Counsel has always involved the Judiciary represented by the Chancellor and the President advised by the Attorney General and it was no less so under President Granger.
In December 2016 the Honourable Carl Singh then Chancellor (ag) recommended several lawyers for Senior Counsel to President Granger, “after conferring with Judges in the Supreme Court with a view to securing their nominations as legal practitioners worthy of being elevated to the dignity of Senior Counsel.” His successor the Honourable Yonette Cummings Madam Chancellor (ag) has followed in the same vein.
Consequently, President Granger appointed the following lawyers as Senior Counsel; Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams, Neil Boston, Justice of Appeal Claudette Singh, Charles Fung-a-Fat, Clifton Mortimer Llewelyn John, Rafiq Khan, Vidyanand Persaud, and Rosalie Robertson.
President Granger’s exercise of his powers in this regard was not whimsical or capricious but in accordance with the following criteria: “long service; commendable public service; reputable professionalism; exemplary personal integrity and admirable social responsibility. Nominees, should enjoy the esteem of their peers in the profession.”
In 2018 four more attorneys-at-law were elevated to the dignity of Senior Counsel to wit: Messrs. K.A. Juman Yassin, Fitz Le Roy Peters, Andrew Pollard and Ms. Josephine Whitehead.
In 2019 President Granger elevated Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Ms. Shalimar Ali-Hack, Ms. Carole James-Boston, Robert Ramcharran and Rajendra Nath Poonai.
Finally in 2020, President Granger elevated to the dignity of Senior Counsel, Ms. Jamela Ali, Messrs. Mursaline Bacchus, Stanley Moore; and Roysdale Forde. Those last appointments caused Counsel Timothy Jonas to bring the extant court proceedings to challenge President Granger’s right to make such appointments.
It cannot be disputed that President Granger has given equanimity to the noble profession after years of the PPP/C’s neglect and we owe him a debt of gratitude.
Yours faithfully,
Basil Williams SC
Attorney-at-Law and
Former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs