Letter: Complaint against the Hon Mr Justice Saunders Source: CaribbeanNet News
Published on Wednesday, October 14, 2009
The Sir: I write in response to the letters to Caribbean Net News by a “Linda McDowald” and by a “Marcia Wilson” respectively. These letters have unfairly called into question the integrity and impartiality of the Honourable Mr Justice Adrian Saunders as well as of the Caribbean Court of Justice by alleging that the judge was on a political campaign in St Vincent and the Grenadines “for a yes vote for [the CCJ] and the Constitution of St. Vincent”. The only basis which Ms McDowald gives for this suggestion is that Mr Justice Saunders, at the invitation of the Constitution Reform Committee and the House of Parliament of St Vincent and the Grenadines, submitted a Memorandum to the Speaker of the House setting forth his detailed views on the draft Constitution of that country. Mr Justice Saunders did indeed make such a submission to the St Vincent and the Grenadines House of Assembly. He did so as a citizen of that country and he was fully entitled so to comment in the manner that he did. There is therefore absolutely no basis for the imputations that have been made against him or the Court in either of the letters. It was entirely appropriate for Mr Justice Saunders to share his expert views on the draft. Accordingly, the idea that the integrity or impartiality of either the Judge or the Court on this account has been compromised must be firmly rejected. Michael Anthony Lilla Court Protocol & Information Officer