Lightbourne's former employee to be quizzed
Published:Friday | March 18, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer
The testimony of Justice Minister Dorothy Lightbourne suffered another setback yesterday when Oliver Smith, the attorney representing Solicitor General Douglas Leys, indicated that his client was prepared to subject his computer to a search by experts.
At the same time, chairman of the commission, Emil George announced yesterday that Verna McGaw, the former employee who allegedly sent emails on Lightbourne's behalf, has been summoned to give evidence.
Smith told the Manatt-Dudus commission of enquiry that Leys was prepared to open his email inbox to determine the source of the emails.
Smith unleashed another bombshell when he charged that despite Lightbourne's strenuous denials of knowledge of the email, her attorneys had known about the correspondence.
He said a search could prove that the lawyers had requested the email which was forwarded to lead attorney Lloyd Barnett in January 2011.
Under re-examination from her attorney, Dr Adolphus Edwards, Lightbourne insisted that she did not authorise the emails to Harold Brady, updating him about a meeting at the United States Department of Justice in September 2009.
The justice minister also maintained that she never spoke to Brady on the matter.
Frank Phipps, the attorney representing the Jamaica Labour Party, argued that McGaw would be required to withdraw from the secretariat of the Manatt-Dudus commission of enquiry.
"No potential witness should work in the secretariat," argued Phipps.
Lawyers murmur
However, this suggestion did not go down with several lawyers who murmured "no, no" in obvious disapproval.
K.D. Knight, the attorney for the People's National Party, said such an action would be unjust if McGaw was to be denied employment through no fault of her own.
"It would be downright unjust, unfair, and oppressive," Knight argued.
However, Phipps maintained that it was incorrect for a potential witness to play a role in the commission of enquiry.
Hugh Small, Prime Minister Bruce Golding's attorney, suggested that the matter be discussed in private.
"We have to be careful of the signal we are sending," Small said in support of the argument that McGaw should not punished.
Lord Anthony Gifford, the attorney for the DPP who had locked horns with Lightbourne earlier, applauded George's decision to call McGaw.