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GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT HAVE APPOINTED SENIOR COUNSEL
Dear Editor,
After the passing of the no confidence motion, the administration becomes a caretaker government, devoid of any real governmental powers, but merely to supervise the machinery of governments like the Police, Prisons, Army, Health, and Education to make sure that everything runs smoothly.
It should not have appointed Senior Counsel, but make recommendation for the new administration.
After a 20-year hiatus, the Granger Coalition Government has elevated a total of 18 lawyers (including the last five) to Senior Counsel. Most deserved promotion, but a few were named because of politics, while several were overlooked because they are not favourites with the current administration.
Elevation of prominent and successful lawyers to the inner bar is an English tradition that started back in the 19th century. They were known as King’s Counsel or Queen’s Counsel. In Guyana, since the country became a Republic state the title was referred to Senior Counsel. British Guiana, now Guyana, was blessed with many outstanding legal brains in the like of Lionel Luckhoo, Lloyd Luckhoo, Joseph Luckhoo, Kenneth Stoby, Gilbert Farnum, Mohamed Shahabuddeen, Shridath Ramphal, JOF Haynes, Fenton Ramsahoye, Alfred Crane, Victor Crane, to name a few.
Unfortunately, nearly all the legal wizards have passed except Rex Mc Kay who is still with us. The gap is very wide since the present crop of judges and senior government lawyers is not up to par with their predecessors of yesteryear.
The current Attorney General Basil Williams who was elevated to Senior Counsel two years ago does not even know that a contract entered into by a government official is binding regardless if the administration has changed. An average law student should know that.
He exposed his ignorance by issuing laughable opinions in connection with the recent no confidence motion, not to mention that his predecessor made rings around him during the past two years.
I do not know the reason why the PPP administration under Jagdeo and Ramotar did not appoint outstanding lawyers senior counsel. As a result, many who deserved silk like Anil Nandlall, former Attorney General, were overlooked while this Coalition Government appointed a few who should not be elevated including a sitting judge, a retired judge, and a 90-year-old former solicitor who is semi retired.
The PPP government also made a few appointments that were not suitable. A few outstanding lawyers who were overlooked including Nigel Hughes, Mursalene Bacchus, Sanjeev Datadin, Glen Hanoman and others.
Oscar Ramjeet
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