Dear Editor,

Clearly stung by the probing, penetrative and incisive cross-examination by KD Knight and Patrick Atkinson at the Manatt/Christopher Coke enquiry, the leadership of the JLP-affiliated Generation 2000 is not surprisingly screaming for the lawyers to be “reprimanded”.

According to the leadership of G2K, the commissioners must rein in KD Knight and Patrick Atkinson as both attorneys are frequently allowed to go off on, “bad-mannered, raucous, and disruptive displays without sufficient reprimand by the commissioners”.

G2K would wish the lawyers to be “reprimanded” in keeping with the culture of silencing those who dare to challenge the manner and style of this government. Let us recall, as just one example, the wholescale removal of members of the Public Service Commission because they dared to recommend, as their remit suggested, an independent, fair-minded and extremely qualified person for the position of solicitor general.

Each witness appearing at the enquiry has the right to be represented by a lawyer of his choice. The lawyers, in keeping with the rules and regulations, as determined by the commissioners, are required to protect the interest of their clients. No one can question the competence, experience and knowledge of the likes of Frank Phipps representing the JLP, Dr Lloyd Barnett representing Dorothy Lightbourne, Hugh Small representing Prime Minister Golding, John Vassel representing Dwight Nelson, Oliver Smith representing Douglas Leys, Patrick Bailey representing Dr Ronald Robinson, and Linton Gordon representing former chief of defence staff Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin. These lawyers are no pushovers. Most of them are at the top of their craft. G2K must leave the lawyers to do their work.

The commissioners have the right to regulate the affairs of the enquiry, and each lawyer is expected to abide by their ruling. No lawyer worth his salt, however, is simply going to abide by every ruling without at times engaging the commissioners. That’s the nature of robust and forthright representation.

Of course, there are different views about the decisiveness or indecisiveness of the commissioners. That is expected at the bar of public opinion. However, the commissioners must be allowed to conduct the enquiry as they see fit, without feeling that they are being goaded into any particular direction by any party political organisation.

Delano Franklyn

Attorney-at-law

Kingston 4

delanofranklyn@gmail.com