Should Andrew Bennett’s Right to Practice Law Be Taken Away?

Wilfred Elrington

Foreign Minister Wilfred Elrington, who signed off on the bundle of documents presented to him on January tenth, also weighed in on Bennett’s dilemma as an embattled attorney. Elrington says on record that Bennett’s right to practice law should not be taken away on the strength of an allegation. 

Isani Cayetano

“As a former Attorney General, as a prominent lawyer yourself, can you share with us, in light of the matter being brought against Andrew Bennett, is he allowed to continue practice?  Is he disbarred based on the weight of this allegation?  What is your opinion or how do you see that issue playing out?”

Wilfred ‘Sedi’ Elrington, Former Attorney General

“Right off [the bat] Isani, I am very firmly of the view that as in the case of my brother, that you made reference to earlier on, these are allegations against Mr. Bennett being made by the United States authorities.  I think it would be wholly wrong for our society to take any punitive measures against him on the basis of allegations being made by the United States authorities.  Because we have an extradition treaty we have to go through certain processes and that is what we are obliged to do because we voluntarily entered into the treaty and we must observe the treaty very strictly.  And so, certainly I will do my part in that regard, but I do not think that we should do anything outside of that that will be inimical to the interest of Mr. Bennett.  I can’t see why he should be disbarred or any such thing based on allegations being made against him.  He’s not a criminal.  There is an allegation or allegations being made against him.  He may well go to court and be absolved by it.  So I don’t think that any punitive action should be taken against him other than the measures that are necessary for us to comply with our obligations under the extradition treaty.”

Bennett is due to return to court on February second.