Georgetown: A dispute has erupted between the Supreme Court of Judicature and the Ministry of Legal Affairs over the hiring of staff for a court reporting unit, which observers say strikes at the heart of ensuring the full independence of the judiciary from the executive branch.
In yesterday’s edition of Stabroek News by way of an advertisement, the Supreme Court repudiated a notice by the Ministry of Legal Affairs in the Sunday Chronicle of July 27 inviting applications to fill vacancies for the Verbatim Court Reporting Unit (VCRU) for the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court, in its notice, said it will not recognize the appointments. “The Supreme Court wishes to advise that it is no way connected with this advertisement,” the notice stated.
“Applicants and prospective applicants who respond to the aforesaid advertisement and who are successful in securing employment with the Ministry of Legal Affairs are hereby advised that they should not consider themselves employees of the Supreme Court and that the Supreme Court will not recognize such appointments and such persons should not expect to be accommodated by the Supreme Court,” the notice, signed by Supreme Court Registrar Rashid Mohamed, said.
The July 27th Sunday Chronicle notice by the Ministry of Legal Affairs pertained to the hiring of a Chief Editor, Senior Editor, reporters, press technicians and an audio technician for the VCRU.
