Chief Justice asked to put up his gavel for good
Chief Justice abdulai conteh
No one is talking tonight because of the sensitivity of the issue, but is there justice for the Chief Justice? Last week Wednesday, the Prime Minister confirmed at a news conference that G.O.B. will not be extending the tenure of Chief Justice Abdulai Conteh who is approaching retirement age of sixty five years. This morning, there were two meetings at the CJ’s chambers. First to meet with him were judges and then the executive of the Bar Association. One source tells News Five that this follows a meeting between the CJ and Prime Minister Dean Barrow at which time the CJ was informed that he was not required to sit on cases past September. It is a delicate situation facing the judiciary and later in the morning, we did get our hands on copy of an e-mail under circulation to Bar members advising that “All part heard matters that were previously before the Chief Justice will be re-assigned to a new judge; no new matters will be set down for hearing before the Chief Justice; and that the Chief Justice intends to demit office by the end of September, 2010.”
Later in the day, another e-mail was dispatched to Bar members from a senior attorney who wrote that it is “quite unfortunate that no reasons have been assigned for the unusual and drastic decisions taken which, among others, will expose parties to the aborted proceedings to additional and unacceptable costs.”
Attorney Fred Lumor also requests the Bar Executive to bring to the attention of both the CJ and the new Attorney General section twenty-one of the constitution which states that proceedings that commenced before a judge, including final judgment should be concluded before the judge before whom the trial is taking place. Lumor also refers to section two of the Constitution that notwithstanding that he has attained the age at which he is required by or under this section to vacate his office, a person holding the office of a justice of the Supreme Court may continue in office for so long after attaining that age as may be necessary to enable him to deliver judgment or to do any other thing in relation to proceedings that were commenced before him before he attained that age.”
Lumor also requests the Bar to demand an unadulterated respect for the constitution and laws of Belize and a rescission of the decisions made in respect of the retirement of the CJ. Late this evening, there is word that at least one member of a bar association committee has resigned in light of the developments. As far as we know, the government is already actively looking for a successor to the CJ. We’ll have more on this story in tomorrow’s newscast.
Definition of Tyranny: one man’s rule in the interest of himself only. This is the government under Dean Barrow.
Definition of Totalitarianism: government controls all aspect of an individual’s life, monopolizing power. Uses brutal police actions, and tight economic regulations…This is the government under Dean Barrow.
Belizeans be afraid …be very very afraid.
HE WILL BE THE NEXT PUTIN?
Dean this is another bad move! You need to let the system work it self through. Can you abide by the constitution this time?
To remove the CJ in this manner is very bad and you should know better because of your training. You are deligitimizing the credibility of the entire justice system of the country with this one move!
Are you trying to create a Kangaroo court in Belize?
Dean Barrow has forgotten when he was in opposition how he used to run to the Chief Justice for protection of the rule of law. Such as was the case when the police had refused to give permission for a particular protest. Dean ran to the CJ and was heard in a matter of a day at which time the order was made to allow the protest. He has also forgotten that it was the very CJ whom he now wants to remove that ordered, in the face of the then PUP government (without fear or favour) that the UDP should have the very building in which its headquarters are now located!!! This is unfettered interference with the independence of the judiciary!
Begone Conteh!
I just want to know which loose-lip keeps leaking out very private information circulated by and to Members of the Bar Association. For a group of persons who should understand the meaning of confidentiality, this is a very very bad practice. Give the Bar a chance to formulate a united response before you all go public with people’s private utterances. !!!
uno betta start save uno money cos justice system when cost expensive in the future so no bruk the piggy bank jus yet.
The action of our P.M. places the whole country in more crises, internationally and nationally.
Now the rule law of our constitutional can be decided by one man a Politian? If the Belizean people allow this to happen, God help us! Belize has just become a dictatorship and the whole justice system has become a circus.
This style of political rule will further discourage investment and development in Belize, please people wake up and see where we are going with this style, and it’s not a UDP or PUP thing it appears to a personal revenge.
I hope international and national intervention will prevail to insure the “rule of law” is followed for the protection for everyone’s rights.
GOD save our CJ and consitution.