The humiliation faced by a great man

Aug 23, 2013 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

He was one of the best criminal defence attorneys this country ever produced. Doodnauth Singh’s abilities were equally regarded, recognized and acknowledged way beyond his country’s shores.
He was a fierce human rights advocate and defender, perhaps the best known one in the 1970s and 1980s. Much of this work was done without reward. He took on many cases pro bono in order to aid in the fight for human rights in his country. But despite this sterling record, Doodnauth Singh will always be best remembered as one of the outstanding criminal lawyers in Guyana.
He had presence in the courtroom. He was mesmerizing on his feet. He was forceful, self-assured, eloquent and decisive in his delivery and cross-examination. Doodnauth Singh was something to behold in a courtroom. He was by far the best criminal defence attorney to grace Guyana’s courts and Guyana has produced some of the best defence attorneys in the region.
His reputation as a fearsome defender of his clients was well known in the Caribbean. In the prime of his legal career he was sought out by clients, both citizens and governments, to undertake cases in other countries in the Caribbean.
So respected was Doodnauth Singh that he was chosen as the Special Prosecutor in the case that sent Bernard Coard and others to prison after the implosion of the Grenadian Revolution. He was eminently respected throughout the Caribbean.
Doodnauth was strong-willed. A lesser man would have been broken by the pressure that was brought to bear on him when he presided over the 1997 elections in Guyana. He saved Guyana from total destruction and annihilation when, perceptive as he always was, he recognized the devious plans that the opposition had in store for the country after the 1997 elections. His declaration of Janet Jagan as President did not require at the time the consent of the full commission and by going ahead with that declaration, he saved the country from being ungovernable.
That election was eventually vitiated because the use of the voter ID card was deemed unconstitutional. But Doodnauth felt that the decision was flawed and should be appealed by the Guyana Elections Commission. Doodnauth was always confident that he would have been able to counter every point that went against the commission in that decision.
Sadly and regrettably he was not allowed the chance of being vindicated by having every single point of that verdict overturned by a higher court. The Guyana Elections Commission refused to appeal that decision.
He was later appointed Attorney General. These are little titles that men seek in the twilight of their careers. Doodnauth no doubt wanted that experience of being his country’s Attorney General. It was supposed to be the last feather in the cap of an outstanding legal career. What better way to end that career than by serving his country in one of the highest legal offices, that of Attorney General?
His tenure as Attorney General must have been a bittersweet experience. He must have felt some satisfaction in knowing that he had served his country in such a high office. But that satisfaction was soured by the disdainful manner in which he was treated after he left office. He was forced to go to the courts to try to obtain his benefits.
Those from the government who will attend his funeral should be guarded in their orations, because in the end, Doodnauth Singh, one of the most nimble legal minds in this country, having served as Attorney General, was humiliated by the very government he served. He was humiliated by being asked to submit a tax clearance, just so as to obtain his gratuity and other pension benefits.
What a shameful and disgraceful thing to do to someone who in his prime offered his services free of cost to defend persons from the ruling party when they were being deprived of their rights? Imagine those who were never part of any struggle had the audacity to prevent this man from receiving what was justly his!
That should never have happened. But it happened because good men said nothing in the face of wrongdoing. Good men allowed political persons who had no sense of Doodnauth’s greatness or reputation and record to humiliate him and eventually by denying him the funds he needed to pay for his medical bills.

Latest News

The humiliation faced by a great man

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| February, 14th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Slingerz FC shines at Guyana Energy Conference and Youth Forum

Guyana’s rising Chess stars take on Barbados

Elite clubs will challenge KFC monopoly on team...

Bristol named manager as Guyana gears up for 2025...

BCB puts a halt to cricket season due to...

Changes made to KMTC Phagwah Horse race meet

Features/Columnists

The clock and the cloud

CARICOM Nations Should Respond Together To new U.S. Policies

Wood snake year

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

The humiliation faced by a great man

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| February, 14th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]