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Bar Association ignores substance of allegations against CCJ, only condemns leaking of messages – Nigel Hughes
(Kaieteur News) – The Guyana Bar Association has come under fire from attorney Nigel Hughes for condemning the leaking of internal Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) correspondence while declining to comment on the serious allegations contained in the messages.
In a statement signed by Secretary Yashmini Singh, the bar council expressed “grave concern” over the media reports surrounding the leak, noting that the disclosure of confidential communications could bring the administration of justice into disrepute.
Attorney Nigel Hughes
The council described the CCJ as a “bastion of justice in the Caribbean” and stressed that communications and deliberations among judges must remain confidential.
“The legal profession expects and respects robust discussion among the members of the court. The unauthorised disclosure of internal correspondence to the media would constitute a gross breach of confidence and a serious dereliction of duty by any person responsible,” the council stated.
It also said the president of the CCJ should be given “sufficient latitude to articulate and implement a vision for the court and the principles governing its administration.”
However, the council made it clear that it was taking no position on the allegations contained in the correspondence.
“The Guyana Bar Association expresses no view on the substance of the matters raised in the correspondence,” it said.
Hughes meanwhile disagreed with that approach, pointing to the seriousness of the allegations, which he stated, cannot be overshadowed by the issue of how the correspondence became public.
“Confidentiality is an important principle, but it cannot become a shield behind which serious allegations concerning the operation of a court are insulated from scrutiny,” Hughes said.
Secretary of the Guyana Bar Association, Yashmini Singh
He said public confidence in the justice system depends not only on confidentiality, but also on fairness, transparency, accountability and respect for established judicial processes.
The controversy follows reports of internal correspondence involving allegations of unilateral decision-making, concerns about the composition of judicial panels, attempts to influence judicial outcomes and problems with the court’s internal culture.
Hughes said the concerns are particularly significant for Guyana because the CCJ serves as the country’s final appellate court.
He also contended that the car council’s position does not reflect the views of a significant section of the local legal profession, saying there is “widespread unease” among both senior and junior lawyers about the issues raised.
“The reported correspondence has revealed matters that are sufficiently serious to warrant more than expressions of regret about a breach of confidentiality. They call for careful and independent examination,” Hughes said.
He maintained that a profession committed to the rule of law should be demanding an examination of the allegations rather than focusing solely on the circumstances surrounding their disclosure.
“Strong institutions are strengthened, not weakened, when internal concerns are confronted openly,” Hughes said.
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