United Progressive Party Chair D. Gisele Isaac has strongly criticised Prime Minister Gaston Browne over his recent comments concerning judicial sentencing, warning that political pressure on the courts could undermine public confidence in the justice system.
Speaking on Observer Radio’s _Voice of the People_ , Isaac said Browne was “dead wrong” to publicly target a judicial officer over sentences he considered too lenient.
“The prime minister was wrong, and he was dead wrong,” Isaac said, arguing that concerns about sentencing should be addressed through the appropriate legislative and judicial processes rather than through threats or public pressure.
Isaac said the constitutional separation of powers requires the executive to respect the independence of the judiciary.
“The prime minister has no jurisdiction over the judiciary,” she said. “You can’t do nothing in the legislature and then use the power of the Cabinet to threaten a judge.”
Her comments follow controversy over Browne’s criticism of sentencing in firearm and other serious criminal cases and his call for a review of the issue.
Isaac also criticised the prime minister’s response to the Antigua and Barbuda Bar Association after the organisation called for an apology over his remarks.
She described his response as “in very, very poor taste” and “unbecoming of somebody holding the office of prime minister.”
Isaac said judges must be allowed to consider the circumstances of individual cases and exercise the discretion given to them under the law.
“The judge has a discretion,” she said. “That is the work of the judge — to look at all the circumstances and make a decision.”
She warned that attempts by political leaders to influence judicial decisions could have consequences extending far beyond the immediate debate over sentencing.
“If a prime minister can determine how a judge rules or doesn’t rule, or sentences or does not sentence, what next?” Isaac asked.
“The judiciary is there to protect the citizens from the excesses of the executive.”
Isaac also linked the controversy to wider regional concerns about public trust in Caribbean courts, saying perceptions of political interference could weaken confidence in judicial institutions.
She said that while Caribbean judges are unquestionably qualified to interpret and apply the law, concerns about relationships between political and legal figures can affect public perception of judicial independence.
“For a lot of people, perception is reality,” Isaac said.
This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: UPP Chair Says Browne Was ‘Dead Wrong’ Over Judiciary Remarks.