It would seem that the above words are so basic to any good Government -- operating in the sole interest of its people at all times -- that any reasonable politician would be ready and willing to adopt them, as the guiding principles for taking his/her people on the way forward.

But as we look around the CARICOM region as a whole, and our own Tri-Island State in particular, it seems very clear that those words of wisdom are falling on deaf ears and blind eyes -- not to mention locked up and heavily bolted thinking minds and functioning brain cells.

Despite all the protests and concerns expressed by individuals, groups and organisations up and down the region -- including nearly every Lawyers Associations in the respective States -- on the proposed amended Chaugaramas Treaty, which encompasses the CSME and the CCJ, with very deep-seated question marks over and around the appellate jurisdiction of the CCJ, as the final court of appeal to replace the London based Privy Council for the majority of States.

The regional politicians continued on their merry way, with most aspects of the coming-on-stream of the new Institutions -- but all of them completely ignoring those who matter most, and for whose interest and welfare they all hypocritically profess that they are looking after and attempting to protect.

Except for Barbados, where Prime Minister Owen Arthur has the perquisite Parliamentary majority, and was able to amend that Country’s Constitution and pass the other Acts in readiness for the CSME and CCJ, none of the other States have ventured thus far, until Jamaica tried it last year and saw its misguided efforts bite the dust earlier this month. Ironically, the very Privy Council in London that the Jamaican Government of P. J. Paterson want to abolish had to come to the rescue of the Jamaican people, to protect the rights and freedoms they have been enjoying for decades.

And once again those misguided and shameless politicians, met in Suriname and Guyana last week, and for the umpteenth time had to postpone the Inauguration of the “CSM” (the “E” part is a long way off) and leave the CCJ, even in its original jurisdiction, in limbo in water-logged Georgetown.

And while that scenario was being played out in Guyana, in neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago the Manning Government is stirring up the boiling cauldron of racial conflict in its efforts to get rid of the Indian (Hindu) Chief Justice, Hon. Sat Sharma -- and no doubt to replace him, should the Government succeed, with an Afro-Trini Chief Justice.

And again the politicians are complaining about the incumbent Chief Justice, because they feel he has been influencing judgments that were not in favour of the Manning Government. And may I add here that, under the CCJ Treaty that those politicians have all agreed to, it is very significant that the President of that Court will be elected by the Prime Ministers, and can be dismissed and replaced by those Prime Ministers after certain procedures they will set in motion.

So much for the independence of the judiciary and the separation of powers, as they stand now and can be anticipated under the CCJ, without the truly Independent surveillance of the Privy Council.

And while all the foregoing fiasco, and contradictions and confusion, are taking place among the politicians themselves, and while it is patently obvious that whatever outcome or consequences may eventually ensue, it is always the people of the region who will be the sufferers and will have to pay the price in whatever form – the views and wishes of the very people are totally ignored and over-looked, as though they do not exist.

The politicians, who were elected by the people, to serve the people, are behaving worse than dictators – and when the few who dare to tell them they are going the wrong way do so, they are branded in the most vicious ways and accused of acting against the interests of the people.

Highlighting that hypocritical position, the Minister for Legal Affairs, Hon. Elvin Nimrod, gave a first hand demonstration when he addressed the nation last week Friday night on the subject of the Government’s nominee, Mr. Hugh Wildman, as Attorney General.

It is the Government’s Constitutional right to appoint an Attorney General of its sole choice, he forcefully advised; and implicit in that right, as well as his emphasis that only the Government can decide who is or is not suitable to hold that post -- is the Government’s position that the Bar Association has no right whatsoever to question that decision.

He roundly condemned the Grenada Bar Association for so doing, and held instead that those lawyers were acting against the interest of the people who paid the lawyers to represent them in court.

Nothing about the very same people who elected the said Nimrod and his cronies to serve them, and are paying them handsomely for so doing, among other perks.

Nothing about the ethical standards, and the character and deportment of the nominee -- well known by now, if he Nimrod did not know it before.

Nothing about the fact, that this “eminently qualified and very competent legal luminary, in whom the Government has full confidence” -- according to Nimrod -- failed to carry out his duty to the Court and the Government in the Dipcon Engineering case that went to the Privy Council, and has already cost the Government AND THE PEOPLE over twenty-two million dollars and still rising.

Nothing about the fact, that this “superior legal nominee, “by Nimrod’s standards, instead saw it fit to sue a Judge who ruled against him for failing to attend Court, and another Judge described Wildman’s High Court suit against Justice Brian Alleyne as …. “misconceived, frivolous, vexatious, and an abuse of the process of the Court.” And that description was upheld by the Privy Council.

All the foregoing, among many more in and out of Court as a Government legal officer, in both Jamaica and Grenada – are nothing to worry about. Simply give the proposed Attorney General a two years Contract, with a six months probationary period to be of good behaviour, and the problem is solved; according to the said Minister of Legal Affairs.

That so-called compromise is so childishly immature and devoid of any seriousness, that it does not deserve any consideration. What is really questionable is whether someone who puts forward that proposition, in the face of all the compelling evidence, fully documented about the conduct and behaviour of Mr. Wildman should himself be holding the portfolio of Legal Affairs in the first place.

Based on Mr. Nimrod’s pronouncements, it now seems that the second limb of the Grenada Bar Association’s requests, viz. that the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC), should refuse to recommend Mr. Wildman for appointment as Attorney General, to the Governor General, is the last resort. The same Constitution of Grenada lays down that, when the Attorney General is a public officer and legally qualified, he can perform both the duty of Attorney General and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The glaring contradiction would, in my view, be a gross insult to the people of Grenada if the same JLSC that refused to appoint the same Wildman as DP. in 2001/2002, when so requested by the same Keith Mitchell Government, now turns around and appoints him to the higher office of Attorney General -- where he can hold both positions, and by so doing tell the members of the JLSC to go take a running jump over whatever.

And, may I add, those JLSC members are well aware of Mr. Wildman’s behaviour, because the GBA made sure they all had copies of the dossier sent to every other interested person.

And what is more, they are also well aware that he has not changed his attitude in any way. Because instead of showing remorse and trying to make amends, he went further and brought a case against one of their very own High Court Judges -- now soon to be Acting President of the OECS Court of Appeal, Justice Brian Alleyne -- accusing him of bias and injudicious conduct.

Then he was only the Government’s “Special Prosecutor” -- a position unknown to our law, but peculiar to the NNP administration for hounding and harassing suspected dissidents.

So that if the JLSC knowingly (of the facts) recommend Mr. Wildman’s appointment in the light of the prevailing circumstances for a position that in effect is a promotion, despite his behaviour and disregard for the judiciary and the judicial system in our State, then that would be a salient pointer to what lies in store for our Caribbean people -- should they sit idly by, and allow their servants cum dictatorial masters/rulers to railroad them into the CCJ as their final court of appeal.

Ethical standards, dignity and decency, integrity and honour -- not to mention our people’s rights and freedoms and personal liberty to live freely in a civilized society -- would all be up for grabs in the ensuing fiasco and contradiction and confusion. And while all the above were making headline news, we lost one of our most decent and dignified members -- in the person of the late Ben Jones; Uncle Ben to those of us who listened to his every word in and out of Court over the years.

As politician, farmer and lawyer, Uncle Ben distinguished himself as an honourable gentleman in the society as a whole. He has gone ahead and will always be remembered -- may he truly rest in peace, and may his mourning relatives and family be consoled and be courageous..

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