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HOME	FEBRUARY 12th, 2005

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Two of Grenada's senior practicing lawyers, Queens Counsels Derek Knight and Carol Bristol have thrown their full support behind the Grenada Bar Association (GBA) in its ongoing protest with government over the pending appointment of controversial Jamaican lawyer Hugh Wildman as the island's next Attorney General.

The two lawyers who have been practising for over 40 years each in the legal profession indicated that Wildman is not the best suited person to holder that high judicial office. Knight, a former government minister in the 1970's, was approached by reporters for comment when he was spotted Friday outside the Number One High Court in St. George's observing the protest by lawyers.

"In my view Wildman is not the best person suitable to hold that office", said Knight who was casually dressed and not in lawyers robes. He went on to say: "Many people believes that the Attorney General role is only to advise the Government, but such concept is wrong. The Attorney General in any country has a responsibility to the people of the country and it is part of the Attorney General's obligations to ensure that the people of Grenada get a good run for their money.

"If there are matters that affect the people as a whole it is the duty of the Attorney General to get involved and see what assistance he or she can make for them and I doubt Mr. Wildman will be in a position to do that for the people of Grenada. The veteran lawyer pointed out that he is not a member of the Bar Association but commended his colleagues, noting that it was the first time he had seen the Bar coming together in such numbers like they did on the Wildman issue.

Knight was in full admiration for the lawyers for the stand taking on the issue in light of the fact that Wildman in recent times had cost the Government millions of dollars in lost court cases. He questioned whether the Jamaican lawyer was the most suitable person to be vested with the powers of Attorney General in Grenada.

He added that the Judicial and Legal Services Committee (JLSC) which is to make the appointment, is an independent body and its obligation is to see that the most fit and proper person get appointed to the post.

Like Knight, Bristol who is another long standing local jurist said that he is in full support of his colleagues on the decision to oppose the appointment of Wildman. According to Bristol, the Attorney General is the principal legal advisor to the Government and the people of Grenada and not to any political party.

He stated that the holder of such office must be a person of integrity and from what he has heard and observed, Wildman is clearly not a suitable person to be made Attorney-General of Grenada and far more important to be made head of the local bar. Bristol made mention of an incident in court involving a Court Order served on the Police to prevent the law enforcement agency from deporting some foreigners out of Grenada.

He charged that despite the Court's order, the people were deported and Wildman who is known to be a legal advisor to the police, knew about the existence of the order. "I don't see how a person who ignores the order of the Court can give the people of Grenada proper advice", said QC Bristol.