BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – PURSUANT to a directive given to Dr. Henry Browne to produce an affidavit explaining the origin of statements made by Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Denzil L. Douglas implicating the court, the document was filed but is void of cause.
Yesterday, after the commencement of the court proceedings in the case of Shawn Richards verses the Electoral Boundaries Commission and the Attorney General, His Lordship Justice Francis Belle vehemently expressed his displeasure, particularly with the PM’s statements which suggested that court adjourned last Wednesday to allow Parliament to discuss the Report of the Electoral Boundaries Commission.
Belle expressed that whoever advised the PM of such “lied to him” and if he arrived at that conclusion on his own, he is “a stranger to the truth”.
His Lordship ordered Dr. Browne, counsel to the Commission and the AG, to file a sworn affidavit explaining how the PM might have arrived at that conclusion. That was to have been and was done before the day’s end.
This morning (July 14) when court resumed, His Lordship said he reviewed the affidavit and noted that it provided no reasons as to how the PM could have arrived at such a conclusion. He said he would have to take that to mean the PM arrived at that conclusion at the hands of counsel.
Dr. Henry Browne expressed his objection to that statement, noting he doesn’t quite understand why he is the one being implicated.
In an exclusive interview with SKNVibes following the proceedings, Dr. Browne explained that he enjoys and endures certain immunities, including lawyer-client confidentiality, which no one can order him to dissolve.
“I am a Barrister-at-Law, one of the barristers of law in the case. I have certain immunities, and privileges and confidences. No one can compel me to disclose if or what I said to any client of mine.”
Meanwhile, the judge’s reaction to the Prime Minister’s statements have led to counsel for the Commission and Attorney General making formal request for His Lordship Belle to recuse himself from the case which was done today.
The matter has been adjourned sine die to allow Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, His Lordship Hugh Anthony Rawlins appoint a judge to sit on the case.
