An affront to elected Government

“… an affront to the elected Government of Bermuda…” said Premier, the Hon. David Burt, JP, MP, today after Governor John Rankin’s announcement of Narinder Hargun to succeed Dr. Ian R.C. Kawaley as Chief Justice of Bermuda.

Under the Constitution the Governor is required to consult with the Premier, who in turn must also consult with the Leader of the Opposition. This consultation should ensure that the individual chosen to lead the judiciary in this country enjoys the confidence of the widest cross section of people he or she is to serve. In this case, the Governor did consult with me and I shared with him that this Government could not support the recommendation of the Judicial and Legal Services Committee. We were elected to represent the people of Bermuda and to bring meaningful change to this country. The views we express are founded in the convincing mandate to govern which was given to us by an overwhelming majority of the people. Every Bermudian should be concerned that this mandate can be ignored and discarded by a process that cannot be molded to reflect their will through the existing consultative process.  Bermudians must feel that fairness, equity and above all justice can be found in all our courts. After fifty (50) years of this constitutionally sanctioned disrespect, this is the latest example of this modern era of democracy being frustrated by the application of standards from the last century.” The Premier added: “It is now for the new Chief Justice to discharge the duties of the office fairly and justly; and in so doing he will have this Government’s support.