Public Utilities Minister Fitzgerald Hinds wants the Law Association to speak out in defence of Chief Justice Ivor Archie.
Hinds said he had noticed for some time “with increasing alarm and worry” the position taken by MPs who are also members of the legal profession. He was referring to recent calls by Opposition Senators Wayne Sturge and Gerald Ramdeen for information under the Freedom of Information Act about the recent appointment of three judges.
He said the adverse comments being made about Archie “can only have one effect, that is to bring disrespect and disdain and a diminishing of the reputation of the Judiciary.”
Hinds said those who were engaged in such action were”not mindful that it is not just an attack on one individual but an attack on the State .”
He said that is especially so when the attack was not justified.
“To query the appointment of the judges by an attack on the Chief Justice is really troubling,” he said.
Hinds, who is also an attorney, said he wanted to condemn that behaviour. He said lawyers should channel their concerns through the :aw Association .
To use the Parliament to launch attacks on the Judiciary was reckless, dangerous and must be condemned, he said..
Hinds called on the Law Association to speak out in defence of the Judiciary, which he said was an important State institution. He also said Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar should “restrain them and for them to be guided by civility.”
Persad-Bissessar and Ramdeen could not be reached for comment on the minister’s statement.
