By Raffique Shah
September 18, 2010
IN the midst of the never-ending cacophony that has come to characterise our politics, it was refreshing to hear at least one voice of reason coming from someone who holds high office. I refer to Chief Justice Ivor Archie, whose speech at the opening of the new law term was so different to the din that emanated from Parliament during the ongoing budget debate.
Continue reading Refreshing voice of reason
May 02, 2010
The following is an open letter to the Chief Justice, dated April 29, from Desmond Allum, SC.
The Honourable Chief Justice,
Mr Ivor Archie,
Age and distance bestows such freedom which I now take advantage of to address these few lines to you.
As you probably know I have been in the United Kingdom for an extended period. Notwithstanding the distance I have been following closely what has been going on in both the political and legal profession arenas. It is of course in relation to the second topic that I write to you.
Continue reading Take your time, Chief Justice Archie
By Raffique Shah
May 02, 2010
HAROLD Wilson, Prime Minister of Britain (1964-76), is credited with the adage, ‘A week is a long time in politics.’ In Trinidad and Tobago, it seems that a day in elections campaigning can trigger changes that would eternally haunt one contestant or other. I had planned to write about platform promises by both major parties, whether or not they are empty rhetoric or offer practical solutions to the myriad problems that face the citizenry. In other words, they can talk and promise, but can they deliver?
Continue reading Tragedy of election errors
Judges in the house?
We have no problem with former judges deciding to join political parties, and to run as candidates for these parties. The difference is that a former judge is a citizen like the rest of us. We cannot yet refer to Judge Volney as a “former judge” in this debate. He was still on the Bench when he made his decision, and he clearly must have been in some sort of consultation with the UNC even as he enjoyed the status of a High Court Judge.
Continue reading Kamla must think carefully on Volney
PM: Has the UNC interfered with the independence of the Judiciary?
A storm has erupted in the election campaign over the resignation of a judge and magistrate to run as candidates for the United National Congress (UNC).
Continue reading Justice Herbert Volney: A UNC Candidate
By Raffique Shah
September 20, 2009
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog
AS I listened to Chief Justice Ivor Archie deliver his address at the opening of the new Law Term, I was transported back in time-42 years ago, to be precise. The CJ must have been a little past toddler stage then, and most of his fellow-judges not yet born or barely older. It was my first Carnival after two-years of military training in frigid England. As a “carnival peong” who had missed out on Sniper’s classic “Portrait of Trinidad” (1966), I jumped straight into however many fetes I could “play myself”. And the tune we partied most to? An infectious double-entendre titled “Archie Buck Dem Up” by a little known (for me, anyway) Bajan group called the Merrymen.
Continue reading Archie buck dem up
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog
Following is the full text of the address by Chief Justice Ivor Archie at the opening of the 2009/2010 Law Term at the Convocation Hall,
Hall of Justice, Knox Street,
Port-of-Spain.
September 16, 2009
Because of the particular focus that I want to adopt for this year’s opening address I will take the unconventional step of acknowledging at the beginning, rather than at the end, those persons who have retired during the past year and whose contributions will endure and leave an indelible mark on this institution, its administration our jurisprudence and most of all on the lives of those with whom they have come into contact.
Continue reading Address by Chief Justice Ivor Archie at the opening of the 2009/2010 Law Term