No day can canoe bore punt – Ramson responds to Kwayanna

As a scion of a Buxtonian I find no comfort in justifiably exposing the limitations of a “born, bred” and famous one. Eusi Kwayana in his letter on “fairness” in S.N of the 18th April, 2021 crossed the line by saying quite unfairly that he once had to “correct” me on a constitutional issue concerning the exclusive jurisdiction of the DPP. Well, apart from having no such recollection, I trouble this bucolic celebrity to reflect on one of our local proverbs i.e. “no day can canoe bore punt”. I invite him to do some research and he will discover that a person of accredited legal learning and recognition as a Senior Counsel since 1969, former President and then Opposition Leader, HD Hoyte O.E. S.C. was treated to an expansive tutorial on the issue in a televised debate in the National Assembly. During my 2nd stint as A.G., a Motion, inspired by his Party comrades, Trotman and Backer, tabled in his name, he sought to “impeach” (sic) me. Had he succeeded, Convention would have required my resignation as A.G. and Minister of Legal Affairs.

In the course of the debate he produced, to my surprise, my informal note sent to the DPP (ag), which was clandestinely leaked by a currently highly-placed member of the Judiciary! The irrefragable, if not incontrovertible, submission was that, as “the principal legal adviser” to the Government under the Constitution, I was supremely authorised to “advise” as I did, and not “instruct” the DPP. Desmond, immediately after the decision was announced by the Speaker Jagan, sought me out and confessed that he had been misled by his then colleagues. The rest is history - easy lesson good for dunce! In my 3rd Book, more will be disclosed about this gentleman who Cde. Cheddi rescued from anonymity, with respect to the 1961 Bye-Election in the Houston Constituency.

Sincerely,

Justice Charles R. Ramson S.C.O.R Former Attorney General, Minister of Legal Affairs and

Justice of Appeal