 |
| File: AG Ramlogan |
A judge handed down a verdict Friday ruling in favour of the State in the men's application to be released on the basis of the proclamation and repeal of Section 34.
AT a media briefing, the AG said: "The matter deserves immediate attention because this has been an endless legal marathon and we need to put a full stop to it."
He held the media briefing shortly after Justice Mira Dean Armorer dismissed the lawsuit brought by Galbaransingh, Ferguson, Ameer Edoo and Maritime Life Caribbean Limited regarding the repeal of Section 34 of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Offences) Act.
Ramlogan said the way is clear for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the criminal justice system to be begin the trial of the defendants. He explained that this possible because no conservatory order or a stay of execution has been granted that would have put the criminal proceedings on hold until an appeal is given.
Ramlogan stated that an ad-hoc court outside of the normal legal system could be held for the trial similar to what happened in the trial of drug lord Dole Chadee.
“This matter has been with the legal system for quite some time. If the way is cleared and there is no conservatory order granted by the Court of Appeal or the Privy Council, then I would be respectfully hoping that the Supreme Court of Justice moves very quickly and swiftly to convene a court on an ad-hoc basis to treat this matter with the priority and urgency that it clearly warrants,” Ramlogan said.
Ramlogan said Friday's ruling was a complete and resounding victory for the rule of law and the Government. "I want to pay tribute to the administration of justice for according this matter the priority that was necessary, having regard to the legal implications, the wider public interest and the need for finality to litigation," he said.
He held the media briefing shortly after Justice Mira Dean Armorer dismissed the lawsuit brought by Galbaransingh, Ferguson, Ameer Edoo and Maritime Life Caribbean Limited regarding the repeal of Section 34 of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Offences) Act.
Ramlogan said the way is clear for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the criminal justice system to be begin the trial of the defendants. He explained that this possible because no conservatory order or a stay of execution has been granted that would have put the criminal proceedings on hold until an appeal is given.
Ramlogan stated that an ad-hoc court outside of the normal legal system could be held for the trial similar to what happened in the trial of drug lord Dole Chadee.
“This matter has been with the legal system for quite some time. If the way is cleared and there is no conservatory order granted by the Court of Appeal or the Privy Council, then I would be respectfully hoping that the Supreme Court of Justice moves very quickly and swiftly to convene a court on an ad-hoc basis to treat this matter with the priority and urgency that it clearly warrants,” Ramlogan said.
Ramlogan said Friday's ruling was a complete and resounding victory for the rule of law and the Government. "I want to pay tribute to the administration of justice for according this matter the priority that was necessary, having regard to the legal implications, the wider public interest and the need for finality to litigation," he said.
"All eight points which were raised by the defendants in this matter were resoundingly rejected by the court in a very comprehensive, well reasoned and analytical judgment delivered in record breaking time,” Ramlogan said.
“The Prime Minister and I discussed this matter at length through many nights while we worked and provided guidance to the legal team,” he added.
“The Prime Minister and I discussed this matter at length through many nights while we worked and provided guidance to the legal team,” he added.
Ramlogan also directed some of his comments to critics who have claimed that Section 34 was designed to favour certain political personalities.
"I think this judgment gives a resounding answer to them because what it demonstrates is far from it, the Government has been committed to the rule of law and it was in fact a parliamentary oversight and Section 34 was passed through the collective inadvertence of the entire Parliament and I am pleased to say that we were able to rectify that matter with this judgment,” Ramlogan said.
No comments:
Post a Comment