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NEWS
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
November 16-22, 2019
Chief Justice to leave TCI and return to Cayman bench BY OLIVIA ROSE MARGARET Ramsay-Hale has stepped down as Chief Justice in the TCI to return to the Cayman Islands after being appointed a judge of the Grand Court in that territory. Acting Governor Anya Williams announced the CJ’s resignation in a statement on Tuesday (November 12). She said: “It is with sincere regret that I announce that the Chief Justice, the Hon. Madame Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale, has resigned effective January 2020 to take up a judicial appointment in the Cayman Islands. “We are grateful for the distinguished service and sterling contribution of Chief Justice Ramsay-Hale to the justice system of the TCI over the last eight years, particularly in her role as chief justice where she has led on modernisation, transparency and access to justice for all as a part of her mandate. “We wish her well on her new appointment,” Williams added. According to the Cayman Compass, the Judicial and Legal Services Commission in the Cayman Islands recently carried out an open recruitment process advertising the post locally and overseas. Following a short-listing process, a panel interviewed five candidates for the post, ultimately recommending Justice Ramsay-Hale as the successful candidate. Governor of the British overseas territory Martyn Roper said: “Justice Ramsay-Hale’s skills and experiences, as well as her commitment and passion to the legal and judicial services, will serve to continue to enhance our judiciary.
PNP 2020 all island candidate, Shaun Malcolm, accused the premier of causing his dismissal
Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson said: “Show the people the proof and hold me into account”
Flow brand ambassador blames premier for dismissal BY DELANA ISLES
Chief Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale
“I look forward to formally welcoming her back home in the New Year.” Incumbent Chief Justice of the Cayman Islands, Anthony Smellie QC extended congratulatory remarks. “Justice Ramsay-Hale’s wide breadth of knowledge in the criminal, civil, and commercial courts will be well utilised in her new role.” On her appointment to the Turks
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and Caicos Islands Judiciary in 2011, Chief Justice Ramsay-Hale became the first woman to be appointed a judge of the Supreme Court. In September 2014, she again made history, becoming the Islands’ first female chief justice. During her swearing in ceremony she said that she would be working to ensure that the courts had functioning recording systems and that transcripts of proceedings were readily available. She also promised a good archival system and a court website where information could be easily accessible to relevant and interested parties. Ramsay-Hale is a graduate of the London School of Economics, the University of the West Indies and the Norman Manley Law School, Jamaica. She was called to the Bar of Jamaica in October 1991 and rose quickly to the Bench, being appointed a judge of the Family Court of Western Jamaica in 1995. As well as being chief justice in the TCI, she is also the sole presiding judge in the civil and commercial divisions of the Turks and Caicos Court and presides in the criminal and matrimonial/family divisions. In 1998, she moved to the Cayman Islands where she served initially as magistrate for ten years and later as chief magistrate for three years. Ramsay-Hale made substantial contributions to reform in case and court administration and changed the criminal justice paradigm from incarceration to treatment for drug offenders and the mentally ill in conflict with the law.
FORMER PDM member turned PNP all island candidate, Shaun Malcolm, has accused the premier of abusing her powers to get him fired as Flow TCI social media ambassador. The serious accusations were made on Wednesday (November 13) in a Facebook post on Malcolm’s page, later prompting Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson to respond. Malcolm alleged that the premier put direct pressure on the local arm of the regional telecoms company by sending a letter of complaint enquiring how he was allowed to continue representing the company while offering himself for political office. The 2020 candidate alleged that the letter was sent to the company immediately after the PNP convention earlier this year. Malcolm said he chose not to address the matter at the time, but a few weeks ago when the premier made a national address on the air traffic controllers strike, she again - by his estimation - took the opportunity to tarnish his reputation with the company after he had showed up to the protest to live stream it on social media under his ambassadorship with Flow. Malcolm said that this latest effort succeeded and he was removed from the brand ambassador position at 4pm on November 12. Shortly after the PNP candidate’s allegations were made public, the premier responded to them on her personal Facebook page. Firstly, she addressed prior accusations made by the Opposition candidate that her office has blocked him from Government events in the past. “I ignored Mr Malcolm the first time he sought to mislead the public
by implying the Office of the Premier had given orders not invite him to this year’s National Honours and Awards Ceremony, as he claimed he was invited in the previous years. “Anyone associated with the awards knows that the honourees, their guests, and members of the HOA are the only persons that receive invitations to this public event. “Nothing prevents other members of the public from attending and he had done so over the years.” Next she addressed Malcolm’s most recent allegations against her office. She stated: “I note with interest two allegations levelled at me: a written complaint from the premier as to Flow’s use of Mr Malcolm as its ambassador and an allegation of abuse of power. “On the first matter, as Flow is said to be the source of the information shared in Mr Malcolm’s most recent fable, I am publicly calling on Mr Shaun Malcolm or Flow to produce the letter of complaint from the Office of the Premier.” She added that it remained Flow’s prerogative to continue its relationship, and provide coverage to whoever and whatever events, or to use as ambassadors whomever they desire, as they have done over time. “They remain wholly responsible to account for donations in coverage. This is a matter for Flow and its ‘surprisingly’ paid ambassador, not for the Government.” The premier further said that if the PNP 2020 candidate believes she has abused her office, and if Flow felt pressured to fire Malcolm, then they are both within their rights to report her to the relevant authorities, in this case, the Integrity Commission. “Show the people the proof and hold me into account,” she encouraged.