Senior Counsel Reginald Armour who was appointed counsel to the tribunal appointed by President George Maxwell Richards to investigate suspended Integrity Commission deputy chairman, Gladys Gafoor, has recused himself. This is according to a statement issued by the Office of the President yesterday. The tribunal was appointed earlier this month to inquire into complaints by members of the Integrity Commission against Gafoor.
It stemmed from Gafoor's decision not to recuse herself from deliberations in a matter before the commission, involving former attorney general John Jeremie. She was subsequently suspended by President Richards on February 9, pending the completion of the probe. Gafoor maintained her innocence in the entire matter.
Other members of the tribunal are Justice Michael de la Bastide, who is serving as chairman; Justice Humphrey Stollmeyer and Justice Maureen Rajnauth. No details were given for Armour's decision to quit but it comes in the wake of claims by attorney for Gafoor, Israel Khan SC, that Armour was already the legal counsel to President Richards. The three-line statement from the Office of the President yesterday said Neal Bisnath, a senior lawyer, would replace Armour as counsel to the tribunal. The tribunal was mandated to investigate complaints that between March 15, 2010 to January 2012 and continuing, she engaged in certain conduct. It was mandated "with the utmost urgency and all appropriate dispatch, to report and to advise His Excellency of the facts found, whether such conduct and/or behaviour by Mrs Gladys Gafoor constitutes conduct and/or misbehaviour within the meaning of the Integrity in Public Life Act."
Meanwhile, Armour commented on his decision to recuse himself yesterday. He insisted there was no conflict of interest in his role as legal adviser to President Richards and the execution of his former role as counsel to the tribunal. He said he remained "satisfied that on the structure of Section 136 of the Constitution, and clearly defined roles therein prescribed for the President and the tribunal, that there is no such conflict." He insisted: "What is of paramount importance is that the objective observer must, from the outset, repose confidence in the process." Armour added: "Accordingly, I considered that in the prudent discharge of my duty to the tribunal and to His Excellency I should offer to recuse myself as counsel to the tribunal, for whose benefit the functions of the office of counsel are to be performed." President Richards said he accepted Armour's recusal.
The statements
Following is the statement issued yesterday by Senior Counsel Reginald Armour on his decision to recuse himself from the tribunal.
The question was raised in the print media whether, as legal adviser to His Excellency, there might exist a conflict of interest in my discharge of the functions of counsel to the Section 136 Tribunal. I am satisfied that on the structure of Section 136 of the Constitution, and the clearly defined roles therein prescribed for the President and the tribunal, that there is no such conflict. Nevertheless, what is of paramount importance is that the objective observer must, from the outset, repose confidence in the process. Accordingly, I considered that in the prudent discharge of my duty to the tribunal and to His Excellency I should offer to recuse myself as counsel to the tribunal, for whose benefit the functions of the office of counsel are to be performed. His Excellency was gracious enough to accept my offer of recusal.
REGINALD T A ARMOUR SC
The President's statement:
Mr Reginald Armour SC has recused himself from his appointment as counsel to the Section 136 tribunal appointed on 6th February, 2012. His Excellency professor George Maxwell Richards has accepted his recusal.
Mr Neil Bisnath has been appointed by His Excellency as counsel to the tribunal.