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Chief Justice denies that he “recused himself”
Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang said, yesterday, that he never recused himself from hearing a quo warranto prerogative writ. The matter which was filed by a lawyer for the City Hall-elected Town Clerk (ag) Royston King, seeks to challenge the legitimacy of Government-imposed Town Clerk (ag) Carol Sooba.
Chang said that Attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes came before him on Thursday morning. Chang said that he reminded Hughes that there is a current matter being heard in the Court of Appeal. The Chief Justice said that he cautioned the lawyer and opined that they should wait until that matter is completed before he is asked to listen to the new writ.
Chang said that it was Hughes who asked for it to be assigned to another judge. The Chief Justice said that it was erroneously reported that he “recused” himself.
The quo warranto was filed Tuesday morning by Attorney Nigel Hughes and served on the de facto Town Clerk (ag) Carol Sooba. Subsequently, Sooba filed an application in the High Court asking the Chief Justice to quash the decision by the Mayor and Councillors who voted to remove her as Town Clerk and replace her with King. The application also asked that King not be allowed to perform any Town Clerk duties among other things.
Sooba’s application was heard the next day (Wednesday) and the Chief Justice granted the request in the interim that the Mayor and City Councillors give reason and authority for their decision to have King replace Sooba.
Apart from the High Court matters, the Local Government Ministry, Sooba and King had expressed dissatisfaction with the Chief Justice’s April ruling, and two separate matters are before the Court of Appeal challenging his decision.
Up until Thursday, City Hall had two acting Town Clerks, one voted-in by the Mayor and City Councillors of Georgetown, Royston King; and the other appointed by former Local Government Minister, Ganga Persaud.
More than a year ago the Minister appointed Sooba who was soon rejected by the Mayor and Councillors. They claimed that she refused to adhere to the decisions of the Council and act accordingly as the secretary to the body.
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