Hypocrisy and double standards of lawyers’ associations in Guyana

TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor,

The Guyana Bar Association/Guyana Association of Women Lawyers (GBA/GAWL) never fail to amaze me. True to form, they have called for the resignation of the Attorney General (AG) over an illegal recording of a private conversation which, according to the AG, was manipulated and distorted.

However, what I find to be extraordinary is the fact that none of these self-anointed paragons will ever be able to the face the public if some of their private conversations were ever made public without their permission.

I am not a lawyer, but I do know that persons must be able to speak freely in their private conversations and are not publicly answerable for those private conversations, if they are made public, unless of course a crime is committed in those conversations.

The current matter is with the Police. As far as I am aware the GBA/GAWL never sought an audience with the AG. Also, the very matter is before the Court by proceedings filed by the AG. The AG in on record as saying that the conversation was distorted and manipulated.

In those circumstances, by what legal principle did the GBA/GAWL make its findings and draw its conclusions. This mad rush to judgment without any due process is not only wrong, but reeks of an ulterior design. This can easily be discerned if a few incidents are recalled.

The public witnessed no reaction when an explosive recording between Member of Parliament Basil Williams and then Commissioner of Police Winston Felix was aired. Based upon that recording, the then Commissioner of Police was heard to be planning, to commit, serious offences.

No resignation was called for by the GBA/GAWL either from the Commissioner or Mr Williams, a lawyer. There was also silence to the numerous legal and ethical dilemmas that Nigel Hughes found himself in.

I believe that when the GBA/GAWL was called upon to issue a statement in the latter matter the very President of the Bar Association response was, “That’s not our business”.

Yours faithfully,

Richard Mendoza

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