Justice Minister Herbert Volney is insisting that he did not attack Chief Justice Ivor Archie during his contribution to the budget debate in Parliament two weeks ago. He said so while speaking on the agenda item Personal Explanations, during yesterday's sitting of the House of Representatives while he sought to clarify his statement. He said: "Clearly, I did not, could not have, and certainly would not have spoken adversely on the conduct of any judge or other person engaged in the administration of justice, from whence I proudly came." Volney said it was not his intention to do that or to violate the Parliament's Standing Orders or the sanctity of the principle of the separation of powers. He said he wanted to be judged only on the annals of Hansard (Parliament's reporting of the event), "for in it alone, lies bare the truth of what I said."
He said: "If in speaking about the inefficiencies of the criminal justice system, as I did, on September 16, 2010, offended the spirit, letter, and/or intent of the Standing Orders, Mr Speaker, I offer this House my sincere and unreserved apology. "To the extent that I was unclear and my bespoke words left an offensive interpretation open, I offer my regret for the vagueness of my language." He said he regretted that his comments were found to be offensive by some people because it was never intended to be.
He said he intended to move on with confidence in the hope that he can with all stakeholders in improving the criminal justice system in T&T. He then said he remained fully committed to "a collaborative partnership with the Chief Justice, the judiciary and its commission as we work together towards transforming our criminal justice system."
Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley and other PNM MPs then shouted: "Shame on you. Resign!" On September 16, Volney said in Parliament: "Speaking to the one in the exalted office (CJ) was akin to speaking to John Jeremie, then AG of T&T. It seemed to be as though the two were the same." Volney went on to speak about an alleged sweetheart deal between the two with respect to the occupation of a house at Goodwood Park. A statement issued by the judiciary days later was critical of Volney's attack. It said: "This, at best, is intended to mislead the national community over a condition of service to which the Chief Justice and judges of this country are statutorily entitled, and at worst, a patent slander against both the office of the Chief Justice and the judiciary of T&T as a whole." And Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar also condemned Volney's statement describing it as unfortunate and denied that the People's Partnership Government shared Volney's views.