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Court Registrar concerned about bias in conduct of investigations
Attorney-at-Law, Nigel Hughes, in a letter to Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene, on behalf of his client, Supreme Court Registrar, Sita Ramlal, says that his client welcomes a thorough investigation into alleged forged orders of court, the creation of which Ramlal is accused. According to the letter, Ramlal is particularly concerned about the manner and apparent bias in the conduct of the investigation.
Sita Ramlal
“We are instructed that the allegations against our client are based principally on statements made by Edward Norman, a retired staff member of the Supreme Court, who was subsequently rehired on contract in 2008 against the wishes of our client,” the letter stated.
According to the letter, Mr. Edward Norman has repeatedly been directly implicated and involved in the creation and manufacture of forged orders of Court and these documents have attracted the attention of foreign consular services including the Canadian High Commission.
The letter noted that matters concerning Norman had been reported to the police before and no action has been taken.
“We have enclosed for your benefit a copy of a signed statement by Mr. Edward Norman dated the 26th April 2002 addressed to our client in relation to the incorrect or false entering of orders of Court by him, in which he admits considerable errors in the entering of orders of court.”
“We have had sight of the alleged forged orders, which were shown to our client on Thursday the 19th instant. We would like to point out that on none of the documents does our client’s signature appear or is there any reference to any involvement on our client’s behalf.”
The letter noted that it appears that that thrust of the investigation seem to rely on the allegations of a tainted functionary who has repeatedly been involved in the creation and manufacture of forged orders of Court.
“Our client has informed us that there are at least ten other reported instances of forged orders issued by Mr. Norman which are currently engaging the attention of the Guyana Police Force. We wish to repeat that our client welcomes a comprehensive, wide ranging and open investigation into these allegations. We fear that our client may be the innocent victim of an incomplete and hurried investigation.”
It pointed out that Ramlal is in the process of accumulating additional documentation which would lead to her exoneration from the aforementioned allegations.
According to the letter, during May 2008, while Ramlal was gravely ill in hospital in the United States of America, Mr. Edward Norman was reemployed in the Supreme Court Registry on the expressed instructions of the Deputy Registrar.
“Upon our client’s resumption of duty she queried the re-employment of Mr. Norman in memo addressed to the Personnel Officer (PO) in which she requested a copy of the records which indicated her approval of the re employment of Edward Norman. Edward Norman left his job at the Registry shortly thereafter.”
The letter also said that there currently exists litigation between Ramlal and the Judicial Service Commission in relation to the operational boundaries of her post as Registrar.
It added that the relationship between the aforementioned parties has been less than happy and could possibly more accurately be described as a contretemps.
“By a letter dated the 7th April 2008 our client wrote to the Head of the Presidential Secretariat complaining about the difficulties which she was encountering in relation to the discharge of her professional responsibilities.
“Our client remains available to assist in the conduct of the above investigations.”
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