Georgetown: Justice James Patterson on Friday granted permission to the Guyana Bar Association (GBA) to have full participatory rights during the life of the inquiry.
The GBA through its head attorney Christopher Ram made an application to the Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Georgetown Prison riots. He outlined the grounds to which the application was made. In his submission before the three-man Commission, the attorney said the CoI would have a direct and substantial impact on the legal fraternity and as such it is important that the Association be granted participatory rights.
“The events of the night of March 02 led to the highest number of deaths in the history of Guyana. It is irrelevant whether they were convicted,” he said noting that the riots which resulted in the burning to death of seventeen inmates should never be allowed to recur.
The Bar Association he said is the authorised body that speaks on behalf of attorneys in the country and he sees no reason why the application should be denied. Ram noted too that many of the lawyers that form the Association are representing some of the prisoners.
Ram argued that the Bar Association is in a position to provide legal assistance to some of the persons that will testify before the commission and noted that under the Commission of Inquiry Act Cap 19:03, persons appearing before a CoI has a right to legal Counsel. He added that those associated with the CoI are also entitled.
However, Justice Patterson in accepting the justifications put forward by Ram asked whether the members of the Bar Association are prepared to provide legal representation pro bono. Ram in response said correspondence has been sent out to the body’s members on the subject but noted that the appearance by its members on the CoI should be pro bono or free of charge.
“I sent an email to the Bar Association that the Association is encouraging all attorneys to participate… the appearance by any member on behalf of the Bar Association is entirely pro bono,” said the head of the GBA.
But Justice Patterson said he is unaware of many experienced lawyers working pro bono, a statement that was almost immediately refuted by Ram. Ram noted that there are experienced attorneys who work pro bono but their work is never publicized.
“Sir, I respectfully suggest that that statement is not entirely true. Lots of attorneys do pro bono work is not advertised…here is a lot of pro bono work going on sir…we don’t always get the credit we deserve,” Ram said.
He pointed to attorney Glen Hanoman who he [Ram] said will be appearing before the Commission next week. He will be working pro bono during the Inquiry. Hanoman also served as attorney on the CoI into the death of Walter Rodney.
Justice Patterson urged the Association to have young members of the profession participate in the Commission so that they can gain the requisite experience needed.
Prisoners Dwayne Lewis and Errol Kesney would be recalled to the Commission next week to be cross examined by the attorneys representing the Bar Association. As such, the Commission was adjourned until Monday, March 14.
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