The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) sitting on October 19, 2022, in its appellate jurisdiction to Guyana subscribes as its final Court of Appeal, took exception to the conduct of Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall of the People’s Progressive Party regime. Nandlall posted the outcome of a decision that was handed down by the Court hours before the court was set to deliver its judgment.
Justice Jacob Wit stated after the actual delivery of the judgment as justices commented on the grave matter that, “The impression was created that okay, the Attorney General has some hidden line with the court. He gets this first, and no one else knows about it.”
The Court had extended to counsel representing litigants in Election Petition 99 Case an advance copy of the judgment in favor of the AG, Bharrat Jagdeo, and others. A recent statement out of the CCJ said “the intent is to give lawyers an opportunity not to relitigate the dispute but to comment on any perceived errors in the draft. The advance copies are clearly marked “CONFIDENTIAL” and counsel are warned to treat them with the strictest confidence pending the delivery of the judgment.”
The CCJ said in the statement, “The premature, unauthorized disclosure of the result of the litigation is inexcusable. It betrays the confidence of the Court and, given the fact that it emanated from the Facebook account of the person holding the office of the Attorney General, it serves to bring the entire administration of justice into disrepute.”
As justices of the CCJ commented on the matter during Court yesterday each frowned upon the conduct of the AG. Justice Jacob Wit, the presiding Judge, said, it was “…a very serious and unacceptable thing… I think we have expressed ourselves clearly enough to make it very clear this is totally unacceptable”.
Justice Winston Anderson, for his part, stated, “I was not aware of the breach of confidentiality. I would say, sir, that this discussion is useful, no doubt. We have heard what we have heard. However, there are much more profound issues at stake.”
Guyana’s Solicitor General Nigel Hawke before the AG’s tepid apology on this Facebook page had sought to beg the mercy of the Court, apologizing on the AG’s behalf. Justice Maureen Rajnauth-Lee stated as she spoke to the issue, “I wanted to say that apart from the apology and all of the things that I’ve heard today, I am very concerned about the impact on the integrity of the court.”
The CCJ said in its statement today that judges and staff of the Court will continue to work diligently, incessantly, to build the public’s trust and confidence in the Court.
More, In The Ring.
