Industrial court president supports CJ Archie

Wednesday's comments by Chief Justice Ivor Archie is getting support from callers to talk shows and several commentators.

And on Thursday Industrial Court president, Cecil Bernard, declared that he fully agrees with Archie's analysis of the dangers in the draft constitution, which Archie suggested could prove to be a threat to the Independence of the Judiciary.

"I agree entirely with what the Chief Justice had to say," Bernard told a special sitting of the Industrial Court in Port of Spain.

During his address on Wednesday, Archie stressed that the separation of powers and judicial independence is of great importance and the independent administration of judiciary proceedings is critical.

Bernard said, "The independence of the court as an institution depends on the independence of its individual members. By individual independence, I mean independence from relatives, from friends and neighbours, from interests - economic, political, social, religious-and above all, independence from other judges, including the president of the court, in so far as judicial functions are concerned."

Bernard also deemed the current process of attempting to reform the Constitution as the perfect opportunity for the Industrial Court to be finally included in the Constitution of this country.

"That the Industrial Court was not established under the Constitution is, in my view, regrettable...Now, it appears an opportunity arises for rectification of the situation," he said.