MAR 20

The OECS Supreme Court has effected a transfer of a number of Magistrates in the country. Informed sources told GRENADA TODAY that the only Magistrate who was not reassigned is Chief Magistrate, Patricia Mark who will continue to function at the No.1 Magistrate's Court in St. George's.

According to a well-placed official, the reshuffle is allegedly aimed at securing the removal of Henry Paryag as the sitting magistrate in Grenville, St. Andrew's. He spoke of Paryag being asked recently by a senior member of the Keith Mitchell-led New National Party (NNP) government to excuse himself as the Magistrate hearing the criminal charge of fraud brought against former Opposition Leader Michael Baptiste.

Paryag is said to have refused the request on the grounds that the only person who could move him from the post is the Chief Justice of the OECS Supreme Court. GRENADA TODAY was unable to reach Magistrate Paryag for comment on the issue.

The case for the State is being put forward by Special Prosecutor Hugh Wildman of Jamaica. Baptiste has been charged in connection with an incident that allegedly took place while he was a member of the ruling NNP administration.

It relates to funds donated to Grenada by Japan to secure the island's support on the issue of international whaling. Paryag is now attending to the No.2 Magistrate's court in town. His replacement is Oforiwa Augustine who is now in charge of the Magistrate's Court in Grenville.

The No.2 Magistrate's Court in St. George's specialises in traffic matters. Another Magistrate who has been relocated is Tamara Gill-Ferguson who is now in charge of the court hearing matters in Carriacou, St. John's and St. Mark's.

She was previously attached to the Magistrate's court for St. Patrick's and St. David's. She is switching with Magistrate Lloyd St. Louis. Speculation is rife that some of the magistrates are upset in the manner in which the transfer took place since none of them were consulted.

"It happened almost overnight with little or no notice at all. Imagine the Magistrates getting a letter on Wednesday telling them that come Monday, they will be reassigned to some other place", said a barrister-at-law who did not want to be named.

"I can tell you that some of the magistrates are not happy with how the matter was handled. They are not saying that they should not be transferred but it was the manner in which it was done that upset some of them", he added.