Do not scandalise the court says Attorney General, backed by Bar Council

By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, February 15, 2023 – A strict warning against defaming the Turks and Caicos’ judicial officers and scandalising the court was issued last weekend via a joint press release from the Attorney General and Bar Council President

A Whatsapp message was again the subject of contention, the release indicated it had made “inaccurate and defamatory” references to Mabel Agyemang, Chief Justice referenced “a number of judicial officers by name” and even made “a number of disparaging, not to mention very inaccurate and unkind statements” about Eugene Otuonye, Director of Public Prosecutions.

The press release indicated that the message had “inaccurately and possibly deliberately”  levelled accusations against Agyeman regarding judicial appointments over which she had no control.  The press release came only days after the announcement of a new acting supreme court judge.

The press release warned that continued actions like this could damage the calibre of the judiciary.

“For a small jurisdiction, we have been fortunate in securing the appointment of experienced and respected judges. We need to be able to continue to attract such candidates in future.  That means that judges and those involved with the administration of justice are to be accorded the respect which they and their office deserve. If there is to be a comment on the conduct of the judiciary an abundance of care must be taken to ensure that any such comment is fair, and it must be scrupulously accurate.” it maintained.

Residents have hit back though, “They in public offices and they will be criticize or attack on social media and otherwise verbally, be a truth or not it will happen, live with it, its not going to change,” penned one person who obviously believes the Chief Justice is fair game.

The writer explained that if Islanders were candid about their views on elected officials, like Cabinet Ministers, her ladyship and the Director of Public Prosecutions should expect not to be exempt.

Rhondalee Braithwaite Knowles, Attorney General and Selvyn Hawkins, President of the Bar Council both rose up to defend the judges as, they explained, is their duty.  Describing the message as harmful and inaccurate the two said.

“The administration of justice should not be brought into disrepute.”