Barrow says Judge must go

The controversy surrounding the judiciary continues to expand. Today Leader of the Opposition, Dean Barrow, following the lead set by the Bar Association last week, filed a formal complaint with Governor General Sir Colville Young requesting the removal of Justice George Meerabux. Barrow charges that Meerabux heard the civil action which ousted Chief Justice Manuel Sosa without proper administrative and judicial authority or knowledge of the Chief Justice. Barrow contends that by making an order prohibiting the Chief Justice from exercising his function, effectively removing him from office, Meerabux usurped the power reserved to the Governor General in Section 98 of the Constitution. Finally he states that because Justice Meerabux had previously expressed his views in public on the appointment of Manuel Sosa he should never have sat in formal judgement of the issue. The Leader of the Opposition asks the Governor General to take note of the resolution passed by the Bar Association at their last meeting requesting the removal of Meerabux and asks the G.G. to have the Belize Advisory Council investigate these issues to determine if they constitute sufficient cause for removal. Manuel Sosa was removed as Chief Justice last month after Justice Meerabux ruled that his appointment in August of last year was unconstitutional. The Government has contended that the Supreme Court action which questioned the constitutionality of the appointment was a private initiative but that they support the ruling. Prime Minister Musa has maintained, with Judge Meerabux’s concurrence, that he was not properly consulted as Leader of the Opposition about the appointment which occurred just one day before the General Election. The Prime Minister has said that government will be seeking to fill the vacancy with a well qualified candidate from the Caribbean. Justice Troadio Gonzalez is the Acting Chief Justice. It is worth noting that while Barrow’s request to the Governor General mirrors the sentiment expressed by the Bar Association, an informal poll of lawyers suggests that while a majority believes Justice Meerabux should go, their reasons are not necessarily those cited by Barrow.