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It Seems them people want Bruce fi choose PNP fi him post them. How many qualified independent observers did the PNP choose?
Choosing the Solicitor General
The resignation of Solicitor General, Michael Hylton, takes effect on October 31, 2007. We pay tribute to the erudition, independence and integrity that he brought to that post. His stay in the position as the government’s top lawyer was a brief one and many had hoped that he would have been appointed Chief Justice, but that was not to be.
There are three main contenders to succeed Michael Hylton in the position as Solicitor General: Both Patrick Foster and Douglas Leys have made outstanding contributions and are distinguished by their hard work; either one or the other could gain the appointment.
The third contender is Professor Stephen Vasciannie, who is eminently qualified. However, Professor Vasciannie is the only contender who has taken membership in a political party. He was a member of the now failed National Democratic Movement (NDM). He was, therefore, among those who because of their admiration for Bruce Golding, joined this movement, which after 12 years, has still not managed to gain a single seat in the House of Representatives. Some of the former members of the NDM have joined the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and have been elected to the House of Representatives on a JLP ticket. Still others have received political appointments to high offices since the JLP has come to power
Should Professor Stephen Vasciannie be appointed as Solicitor General, it would be difficult to avoid charges that the post is being used to reward political friends and connections. Such an appointment could therefore run the risk of being seen as a politicisation of the office of Solicitor General.
We do not support the view that it is necessary to advertise the post. This, as has been demonstrated elsewhere, runs the risk of trivialising the position.
What would be helpful is an articulation of the criteria of selection for the position of Solicitor General.
We list the following requirements as non-negotiable: proven competence and erudition in the all matters of law; demonstrable independence, rigour, astuteness and courage; and finally, probity, integrity and character.
We cannot overstate the importance to maintain the independence of the office of Solicitor General from the taint of political partisanship.
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Choosing the Solicitor General
The resignation of Solicitor General, Michael Hylton, takes effect on October 31, 2007. We pay tribute to the erudition, independence and integrity that he brought to that post. His stay in the position as the government’s top lawyer was a brief one and many had hoped that he would have been appointed Chief Justice, but that was not to be.
There are three main contenders to succeed Michael Hylton in the position as Solicitor General: Both Patrick Foster and Douglas Leys have made outstanding contributions and are distinguished by their hard work; either one or the other could gain the appointment.
The third contender is Professor Stephen Vasciannie, who is eminently qualified. However, Professor Vasciannie is the only contender who has taken membership in a political party. He was a member of the now failed National Democratic Movement (NDM). He was, therefore, among those who because of their admiration for Bruce Golding, joined this movement, which after 12 years, has still not managed to gain a single seat in the House of Representatives. Some of the former members of the NDM have joined the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and have been elected to the House of Representatives on a JLP ticket. Still others have received political appointments to high offices since the JLP has come to power
Should Professor Stephen Vasciannie be appointed as Solicitor General, it would be difficult to avoid charges that the post is being used to reward political friends and connections. Such an appointment could therefore run the risk of being seen as a politicisation of the office of Solicitor General.
We do not support the view that it is necessary to advertise the post. This, as has been demonstrated elsewhere, runs the risk of trivialising the position.
What would be helpful is an articulation of the criteria of selection for the position of Solicitor General.
We list the following requirements as non-negotiable: proven competence and erudition in the all matters of law; demonstrable independence, rigour, astuteness and courage; and finally, probity, integrity and character.
We cannot overstate the importance to maintain the independence of the office of Solicitor General from the taint of political partisanship.
GO BACK
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