Acting Chancellor Carl Singh yesterday registered grave concerns over recent statements made by attorney Nigel Hughes, whom he accused of disrespecting his office in a reckless and malicious attack.
The Chancellor rejected Hughes’ statements, carried in a Kaieteur News report on December 4, as false and baseless. He said that they accuse him of being unfit to hold and discharge the responsibilities of his office and they were “calculated to cause substantial prejudice to the due administration of justice in Guyana and to bring it into disrepute.”
The Chancellor’s concerns were outlined in a statement from his office yesterday. “His Honour the acting Chancellor of the Judiciary has noted with horror and dismay, certain statements made of and concerning His Honour, by junior counsel Mr. Nigel Hughes…” the statement said.
Hughes, when contacted for a comment yesterday, said that he would be consulting with his lawyers before he issues a response to the Chancellor.
Hughes is appearing as counsel for CN Sharma in a witness tampering case and in the Kaieteur News report, “Prosecutor challenges delay in trial,” he is quoted as saying that it was the policy of the Chancellor to be handing down instructions to the Magistrates. In his objections to the case being heard in the court, Hughes made reference to statements he said the President made about Sharma, adding that Sharma is fearful the Chancellor will issue a directive to the presiding Magistrate in favor of the president, since he [Chancellor] would not want to upset the head-of-state.
Hughes said also that on several occasions Magistrates have been called to meetings by the Chancellor without the knowledge of the Chief Justice.
Chancellor Singh said that Hughes’ statements were scandalous and maliciously made. He pointed out that while he is not adverse to criticism or fair comment on the discharge of his constitutional responsibilities, he considered the statements to be completely beyond the parameters of respect, fairness and propriety.
The Chancellor said that Hughes has not refuted the newspaper article and that his statements represented contempt for the Office of the Chancellor and was also “the basest form of insult to members of the magistracy of Guyana, whom his Honour has a duty to protect from such disparaging utterances.” Further, the Chancellor said that he is consulting with his attorneys, and will not shirk from his duty to take appropriate action.
