No joy for Bar in Meerabux suspension
Smith says that by early next month two new justices, Barbadian Christopher Blackman and Belizean Mansel Thurton, will be added to the court to bring it to full strength. We are not certain whether that number includes recently suspended justice George Meerabux, but Bar Association President Derek Courtenay brought us up to date on where that case is at.
Derek Courtenay
“The committee of the Bar Association took the position that it was necessary to commence proceedings for his removal. Those proceedings have commenced. Mr. Meerabux has, through his attorney, brought proceedings in the Supreme Court alleging that his constitutional rights were being infringed. Those have been thoroughly heard before the Chief Justice. The Chief Justice has ruled that the process should continue. As I understand it at this stage, the Governor General has asked the Advisory Council to investigate the matter to determine whether or not they would recommend that he should be removed from office.”
“It’s not a matter that gives us any great comfort, in the sense that it is always a sad thing when something of this kind surfaces. On the other hand, as the Attorney General said in our proceedings this morning, it should be a reassurance to everyone that our system is such that we can face it, confront it, investigate it and make a determination of it rather than sweeping it under the carpet.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“It’s an unprecedented move, will this keep the other judges in line you think?”
Derek Courtenay
“It is an unprecedented move, and I certainly hope that within my lifetime it is not going to happen again. I do not think that in the mind of the public, that this is something which affects other members of the judiciary. I think this is one of those things which we must regard as exception, and hope that we’re not going to see a repeat of this.”
Courtenay says he would not like to forecast the outcome as it is now up to the Belize Advisory Council to make its recommendations on the fate of Justice Meerabux.
