The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement Chairman Michael Pintard has called for a judicial review to be performed into the “behind the scenes” decisions the Office of the Attorney General made into the allegations of judicial interference against MICAL MP V Alfred Gray.

Mr Pintard was reacting to an announcement from the Office of the Attorney General on Friday, which noted legal action would not be taken against anyone connected to the matter involving Mr Gray, Mayaguana Administrator Zephaniah Newbold and 19-year-old Jaquan Charlton, citing a “conflicting nature of evidence”.

Mr Pintard said no one is surprised by Attorney General Allyson Maynard Gibson’s decision, adding that the FNM has always been concerned about her ability to be fair and unbiased while considering a matter involving her Cabinet colleague.

He called on the attorney general to release relevant documents related to the matter, including the official police report handed to her office on April 20.

Regarding Mrs Gibson’s recommendation to Chief Justice Hartman Longley that “stipendiary and circuit magistrates increase their circuit work,” Mr Pintard said the advice is not enough to eliminate the possibility that similar allegations would be made in the future.

He said that steps should be taken in the House of Assembly to address matters of possible judicial interference between politicians and Family Island administrators.

“Some fundamental steps need to be taken to ensure independence in the Office of the Attorney General,” he said.

Addressing Mrs Gibson’s statement, he said: “It’s significant that the statement mentions ‘second hand information’ and conflict as reason for not pursuing charges. But the thing is, the primary conflict is in the public and private accounts by Mr Gray of what occurred. First he was uncertain as to whether he had made the phone call to contact the Mayaguana administrator. Then later, through the leak of the affidavit to the press, we learned that he was quite clear to authorities that it was he who called the administrator on at least two occasions. Furthermore, we need to eliminate the conflict where the administrator has two bosses to whom they are accountable, the chief magistrate and the local government minister.”

He added: “We also want to know what will be the outcome of the case. Where there is an unconditional release of someone, at a minimum you would expect the AG to comment on that. What is the ultimate position of the AG with respect to that matter?”

The FNM alleged in March that Mr Gray used his Cabinet position to free Charlton, his teenage constituent, after conviction and sentencing. The FNM organised protests in New Providence in view of the allegations, demanding Mr Gray’s resignation from Cabinet.

In his defence, Mr Gray has said that he contacted Administrator Newbold only to offer “legal advice.” He denied that he attempted to sway the course of justice, saying he only advised the administrator that he had the option of granting bail since an appeal had been filed.

However, Mr Newbold has said that he released the convicted youth outright “after an order came forth.” In a letter to the chief magistrate obtained by The Tribune, Mr Newbold alleged that Mr Gray threatened to transfer him from Mayaguana if he refused to release the accused teen.

Attempts to reach Mr Newbold for comment on the decision were unsuccessful. Mr Gray said he did not want to comment yesterday.

In March he asked Prime Minister Perry Christie to relieve him of his local government portfolio pending the outcome of the investigation; it is unclear if he will be reinstated.