Lawyers tangle over court’s jurisdiction on Speaker’s ruling

Basil Williams

Lawyers for the government and the opposition wrangled yesterday over whether the court has jurisdiction to entertain the motion filed by government challenging the decision to limit Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee’s participation in the National Assembly.

At a hearing before acting Chief Justice Ian Chang, initially scheduled on the motion filed by Attorney General Anil Nandlall, arguments began on a summons filed by Opposition Leader David Granger to have the court dismiss the action.

“…We feel very strongly that the jurisdiction of parliament must not be eroded by these excursions into the court,” attorney Basil Williams, one of the lawyers for Granger, said, even as Nandlall maintained that the