The Administration has noted the attempt by sections of the local media to mislead the public about the comments made by President Bharrat Jagdeo on a recent Court ruling during his feature address at the Annual GDF Officers’ Conference, Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said in a statement last evenin

In his address, the President asserted that the judge made legal history in granting bail to a murder accused on technical grounds.

Subsequently the President’s assertion was questioned on the ground of inaccuracy in that a murder accused had earlier been granted bail by the same judiciary.

“What the criticism failed to acknowledge was the significant difference between the earlier and the recent rulings,” Minister Rohee said.

“The earlier ruling was made in the context of a specific constitutional motion uniquely being addresses by the Court.

“The current ruling has no such origin and that is why the President’s contention is accurate that the current ruling created legal history.

“The overarching issue however still remains the resolve of the administration to be critical of the judiciary.

“The Administration is serving notice that instances such as the recent judicial ruling that granted bail to a murder accused will always be a subject of the Administration’s critical comment”, the Home Affairs Minister concluded.
January 29, 2010