New judge "a burst of sunshine": Daly

The President of the Bar Association, Martin Daly, has described as "a burst of sunshine" the appointment of former Acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Carla Brown-Antoine as a justice of the High Court.

Brown-Antoine's appointment to the DPP's post was vetoed by Prime Minister Patrick Manning. On Thursday, she took the oath of office to become one of the nation's new judges.

The DPP's position will be held on a three-month temporary basis by Roger Gaspard while the Judicial and Legal Services advsertises the post again.

Daly was speaking Friday at a welcoming ceremony for Brown-Antoine in the Port of Spain High Court.

In a brief address he said the former acting DPP is "a burst of sunshine in the midst of what have been several cloudy months for the Judiciary and the administration of justice".

He commented on Manning's veto, saying the country had suffered a loss when "we were deprived of confirmation of your services as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP)." He added, "The damage to the office of DPP is continuing and highly regrettable."

Daly also referred to statements by Chief Justice Ivor Archie, who on Wednesday expressed concern over the draft Constitution proposal and its impact on the independence of the Judiciary.

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Daly said "the intention of the political executive, if permitted, to take the retrograde step of establishing a Ministry of Justice to interfere in the institutional independence of the judiciary" is a cause for concern.

He said the Law Association is also concerned about the fact that key positions, including the DPP and Solicitor General, are yet to be filled.