Investigation Should Determine Whether Justice Awich Remains on Bench

Eamon Courtenay

Given the evidence that is presently before the court, as well as the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, Courtenay says that an investigation should be undertaken to determine whether Justice Awich can remain on the Court of Appeal’s bench.

Eamon Courtenay, Attorney for Belize Bank Ltd.

“The point we make in relation to the first appointment and in relation to the second appointment, let me make clear again, as we have made repeatedly below, no one is challenging the actual appointment of Justice Awich.  That process, the constitution lays out the process and this court is aware of the challenge that the Bar Association brought and it has not been corrected by the government.  What we say is this, what we say is this, the circumstances that attended the appointment, first and second appointment of Justice Awich were matters that were played out in public, one.  Two: the cases, and I keep emphasizing this, this court’s focus, as well as, quite frankly, the council, the Belize Advisory Council, if this matter is referred to the council, the focus is not only on the judge, what have you done or what you have not done.  An equally important focus is the impact of the judge sitting, continuing to sit and the whole question of the integrity of the bench.  What is it that is being perceived that is happening here, by the way in which this judge was appointed and continues to sit?  So I want to make clear that we say that the evidence before the court and before the commission as to the way in which the appointments took place adds weight to our complaint that there is something amiss that requires investigation as to whether or not Justice Awich can continue to serve as a Justice of the Court of Appeal.”