Former chief justice Satnarine Sharma never recovered emotionally from the moves by the People’s National Movement Government to have him impeached for misconduct in public office.
This was the view held yesterday by former prime minister Basdeo Panday following Sharma’s passing which rocked the legal fraternity.
Sharma, 76, who served as the country’s eight CJ died at his Maraval home yesterday after ailing for a while.
Panday said Sharma was treated in a “humiliating manner” by the State and then prime minister Patrick Manning, compared to what is taking place now, referring to the controversy surrounding embattled Chief Justice Ivor Archie.
Looking at the actions taken against Sharma under Manning’s administration and the current situation with Archie, Panday said, “I would have hoped that the law took its course with both CJs.”
Why was Sharma targetted by Manning?
“It’s a pity he is dead. I mean Mr Manning. Otherwise, we would have asked him because I certainly don’t know the reason why Manning treated him (Sharma) the way he did.”
Panday said Sharma never recovered from the move to impeach him and Manning went to his grave without giving the country an explanation.
Having served as CJ from 2002, Sharma resigned in 2008. He was succeeded by Archie.
Sharma was the recipient of the country’s highest award the Trinity Cross in 2003 and also received the Chaconia Gold Medal for his contribution to the development of law.
Panday said the attempt to impeach Sharma bothered him to no end.
“He felt beaten.”
Panday said Sharma pined away until he went to his maker.
“He was a good Chief Justice. It’s a pity he did not write his biography, Had he done so that biography might have revealed a lot of things we don’t know about.”
Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj: A sad loss
Former attorney general Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, SC, described Sharma as his dear friend.
They both studied law in England and were appointed to the bar at the same time.
Maharaj said Sharma would always be remembered for his distinguished career as a lawyer, judge and chief justice.
“His passing is a sad loss to the country and legal profession.”
Maharaj said Sharma was a determined individual and always expressed interest in the development of our laws.
“It was his judgement in respect of the rights of common-law wives and husbands that led to the passing, while I was attorney general, of the cohabitational relationship act.”
Maharaj admitted that the executive arm of the State was ill-advised in taking proceedings against Sharma.
“I think a grave injustice and a substantial miscarriage of justice was done against him by the executive arm of the State. I think it is correct to say that he never recovered from the embarrassment which he had to undergo because of those proceedings. It adversely affected him. He never got over it.”
He said the move to have Sharma impeached was a heavy blow to him.
“I spoke to him last Sunday on the telephone. He was very ill. Without disclosing anything he (Sharma) told me he was very determined to fight even to the end. He used to always tell me that he would never allow problems to get the better of him.”
He was a strong CJ
—Israel Khan
Senior Counsel Israel Khan described Sharma as a strong CJ.
“It is a sad day. We have lost a eminent jurist. His knowledge of law was impeccable,” Khan said.
Khan said Sharma faced both criminal charges and a tribunal under Section 137 as a strong man.
“He had the testicular fortitude to allow due process to take place and was eventually exonerated of the charges.”
Attempts to impeach Sharma, Khan said did have some effect on him.
“It seems there is one law and one criterion for Sharma and another for Archie. The law is there for everybody. But people who have to implement the law is not implementing it.”
