CJ and Mr Justice Kangaloo: Put Judiciary First
January 06, 2012
61 KbMEDIA RELEASE
Immediate: January 6, 2012
CJ and Mr Justice Kangaloo: Put Judiciary First
The Honourable the Chief Justice, Mr Justice Ivor Archie, and Justice of Appeal, Mr Justice Wendell Kangaloo, at their request, met with his Excellency the President, Professor George Maxwell Richards at his office at President's House at 4.30 this afternoon (January 6, 2011) during which they expressed their views on the ongoing debate on their receipt of Silk as sitting Judges of the Supreme Court of Trinidad and Tobago.
Both the Chief Justice and Mr Justice Kangaloo remain firm in their view that no wrong was committed in their acceptance of silk from the President, and that their actions are very defensible and breached no protocol which was previously adhered to. However, they are deeply concerned that the heightening controversy has the potential to impact negatively on the Judiciary of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and the relations it treasures with its stakeholders.
Accordingly, Mr Justice Archie and Mr Justice Kangaloo took the decision to return the instruments which granted the title of Senior Counsel, so graciously presented to them by His Excellency at the special ceremony last Friday, December 30, 2011, emphasising that they in no way wished to reproach his Excellency the President, nor the Executive by this decision. Their action was also taken in the interest of preserving the integrity and dignity of the Judiciary which is one of the fundamental pillars of democratic Trinidad and Tobago and which they are committed not only to robustly defend but also to scrupulously uphold.
The Honourable the Chief Justice and Mr Justice Kangaloo have indicated that they will ventilate their views on the issue surrounding the granting of silk at a later date.
For further information, kindly contact:
Jones P. Madeira
Court Protocol and Information Manager
Telephone: (Mobile) 473 8158 (Office) 627 9744
E-mail:
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