In his first appearance on a political platform retired High Court judge Herbert Volney last night accused Attorney General John Jeremie of trying to undermine the independence of the Judiciary. A fiery Volney said he had to leave the Judiciary to fight for its independence. Volney, speaking during a UNC political meeting in St Joseph last night, said he was moved by the holy spirit. Speaking after him Movement for Social Change candidate for Pointe-a-Pierre Errol McLeod described Volney as "a hoodlum minister."
During his speech, a number of people appeared in the crowd holding placards questioning his credibility. The former judge said they were Cepep workers who were paid by the PNM. "Let them do it. If they don't they will be fired," he said.
Volney added: "That is the PNM way of dealing with it. They can't deal with the fire from Volney... because I speak with the holy spirit." He claimed Jeremie was having State attorneys "burn the midnight oil" for the last three days to make out a case that he was still a judge and therefore could not be a candidate for the May 24 general election.
Volney accused Jeremie of making a false case against former Chief Justice Satnarine Sharma. He also said the case against Vijay Narayansingh and his wife, Seeromani Maraj. for the murder of Narayansingh's former wife Chandra was compromised.
"How could I personally stay in the judiciary and maintain my independence," he said. Volney brought to the podium three items – a bunch of keys, his Trinidad and Tobago identification card and a rubber snake.
He said the keys symbolised the keys to the office of the Prime Minister, the office of the Attorney General, the office of Culture Minister Marlene McDonald and the office of the incumbent St Joseph MP Kennedy Swaratsingh. Volney said the serpent represented Patrick Manning and the PNM. He said Manning and his minions must be confined to the political cemetery. He said the ID card was the most serious of all the symbols. He said it proved he was a citizen and therefore had rights. Volney will be contesting the St Joseph seat under the UNC.