Golding chides Chuck

Opposition spokesman on justice, Senator Mark Golding, has issued a caution to his counterpart, Delroy Chuck, saying his broad-brushing of the judiciary in relation to the time they take to hand down judgments is inappropriate.

He said while no one, including judges, is above criticism, Chuck’s comments were unfair to the judiciary.

Members of the judiciary met on Monday to discuss, among other things, remarks by the justice minister who criticised them about the slow pace at which sentences were handed down. There has been no word out of that meeting.

IN PHOTO: Delroy Chuck

However, addressing journalists at a press conference at PNP headquarters, Old Hope Road in St Andrew, yesterday, Senator Golding said it was dangerous for a minister to broad-brush the performance of the judiciary.

He warned that the justice minister’s comments could demoralise and undermine the collective effort that was needed to move the justice system forward.

Senator Golding said Chuck should be careful not to trespass on the constitutional boundaries between the executive and the judiciary in terms of recommending sentencing, which is within the purview of the judges who have the facts of a particular case before them.