Grenada Today - The National Newspaper of Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique

Grenada could face a one-day shutdown of all sectors of the economy very soon as protesting lawyers continue their battle with government on moves to appoint controversial Jamaican barrister Hugh Wildman as the island's next Attorney-General.

Informed sources told GRENADA TODAY that the Grenada Bar Association (GBA) has called on the powerful Trade Union Council (TUC) for solidarity in its four week old struggle with the Keith Mitchell-led New National Party (NNP) regime.

The government has restated its position that the proposed appointment of Wildman as Attorney-General "is a correct one based on the established criteria for appointment to this post". According to a well-placed source, the lawyers and the trade union leaders held an important meeting Wedesday at which the main talking point was the involvement of labour in helping to force government's hand on the Wildman the issue.

He said that if the TUC gives its blessings to the proposed one-day strike it could see the Technical & Allied Workers Union (TAWU) effecting a shutdown of all air and seaports in the country, as well as disrupting key utility services such as electricity, water, telephone and port services. The source indicated that teachers are most anxious to take part in the strike action in order to send an early warning message to the Mitchell government with regards to their current dispute on the State's proposal for a wage freeze for the next two years.

The Grenada Union of Teachers (GUT) is insisting that it wants the final payment of the last 3-year industrial agreement and has given the administration until month-end to fullfil its obligations to them. The source also dropped hints that the government could get a serious blow with plans for the one-day national strike if the Public Workers Union (PWU) gives the green-light to civil servants to join the battle.

He said that the call for strike is a very sensitive one since the TUC will have to engage in some kind of a dialogue with interest groups like the Grenada Chamber of Industry and Commerce (GCIC) and the conference of Churches of Grenada (CCG). "It is not easy to just call out the workers. We will also have to talk to other interest groups...", he remarked.

The TUC has also sent the copy of a letter despatched to Prime Minister Mitchell (see page 23) to members of the Judicial & Legal Services Commission (JLCS) on the Wildman. Trade union officials said they hope that common sense prevails and that commission members think twice about recommending Wildman for the AG post.

Among the members of JLCS are Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC) of Grenada, Justice Monica Joseph, retired high court judge, Lyle St. Paul, retired Court of Appeal Justice, Albert Redhead, and acting Chief Justice of the OECS Court of Appeal, Adrian Saunders. On Wednesday, almost all members of GBA marched through the streets of St.George's on Wednesday morning as they took their protest against the pending appointment of Hugh Wildman to a higher level.

The members headed by their president, Ruggles Ferguson began the march in the yard of the High Court on Church Street, and moved onto St. Juille's Street, Melville, Halifax, Young Streets, the Carenage and H.A. Blaize Street. As they marched along the various streets wearing red ribbons the lawyers were encouraged by several passersby to stand firm and do not give in to the wishes of the Mitchell Government.

President Ferguson spoke to reporters while the march was in progress, saying that they felt compelled to take the protest action one notch higher. He stressed that this became necessary in light of the announcement made last Friday night by Legal Affairs Minister Elvin Nimrod in a national address that government has every intention of appointing Wildman as Attorney General.

"They are refusing to withdraw his name from the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC) as the nominee for Attorney General and with that declaration last Friday notwithstanding our protest it was necessary to move the protest one notch higher and demonstrate to the Government and those concern that it was not a protest staged by a few members of the Bar but the entire organisation", he said.

Ferguson also told reporters that he had heard comments from several sectors of the society on the issue of government's plans to payoff the current Attorney General Raymond Anthony whose contract has not yet expired. He said that to payoff Anthony will require a substantial sum of money, notwithstanding the fact that the country is faced with a serious financial crisis.

The Bar president said the organisation will like to make it very clear that the members are opposed to Wildman as Attorney-General because of his conduct over the years and other allegations which throw him in a suspicious light and warrants an investigation particularly his role when he was Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) a few years ago.

Ferguson was clear in stating that the lawyers will remain united and continue with the protest until Government withdraws the nomination.