T&T CJ leaves again on six-week vacation

(Trinidad Guardian) An email sent by his administrative secretary Shabiki Cazabon to Judges and Masters of the T&T Supreme Court on Monday, a copy of which was obtained by the T&T Guardian, advised that Archie would be out of the jurisdiction from May 19 to June 30 to continue his vacation leave, which was cut short due to his mother’s death earlier this month.

The email stated that Appellate Judge Allan Mendonca will act as Chief Justice between May 19 and June 7 and from June 18 to June 29. Appellate Judge Alice Yorke-Soo Hon will act as Chief Justice from June 8 to June 17.

The correspondence comes less than three weeks after a similar email was circulated May 2, indicating that Archie’s vacation ended when he returned to T&T for his mother’s funeral that week.

Contacted by Guardian Media on Monday, Cheryl Lala, communications consultant to President Paula-Mae Weekes, confirmed that Archie’s apparent second leave period was simply a continuation of the first, which was approved by former president Anthony Carmona, earlier this year.

“I think it was just a continuation of the leave...When you add it up, the previous leave was broken a few times,” she said.