The Assembly of Southern Lawyers is calling on the Law Association to consider initiating contempt proceedings against Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley. This follows the Deigo Martin East MP's statements on the ruling in the Ishwar Galbaransingh and Steve Ferguson extradition matter. President of the assembly, attorney Frank Seepersad, told the T&T Guardian an apology from Rowley was not enough. "An apology will not adequately remedy the situation as the harm already has been done and the seeds of doubt already have been planted in the minds of members of the public," Seepersad contended.
On Tuesday, in response to questions on the decision by High Court judge Ronnie Boodoosingh to quash the United States extradition order for the businessmen, Rowley said: "I wouldn't term it a defeat for the Attorney General... if there is any defeat it would be for justice in Trinidad and Tobago." The Opposition Leader also said it was the AG who "facilitated the whole process. so having got the expected result, I wouldn't call it a defeat." Seepersad said Rowley's statements "amount to contempt and the Law Association, just as it did in the Chokolingo matter, can move the court to hear contempt proceedings in this regard."
He said the executive of the assembly would be writing to the Law Association "with a view of considering the commencement of contempt proceedings." Seepersad said public figures must be cautious in their statements. He added: "It is always extremely important that persons who hold public office think carefully and act responsibly when making statements. To do otherwise is unacceptable in a civilised democratic society." In a media release on Rowley's statement, Seepersad wrote: "The imputation of wrong-doing on the part of the judge appears to be a malicious, calculated, unwarranted attack on the honourable judge and by extension the Judiciary and the administration of justice."
He said the Judiciary was "perhaps the only arm of the State that is untainted by allegations of impropriety and/or corrupt practices and it is therefore unacceptable that a politician will dare to bring the Judiciary into disrepute." Seepersad added: "As lawyers we are committed to uphold the Constitution and the law and this egregious attack on our judicial system, and by extension on our democracy, will not be tolerated."