PM defends sentencing criticism after regional judicial rebuke

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — Prime Minister Gaston Browne has pushed back against Caribbean judicial leaders who condemned his comments in which he threatened to deport a judge, insisting that he was giving a “last resort warning” and that judicial decisions are not beyond public criticism. The Caribbean Heads of Judiciary, in a strongly worded joint statement on Wednesday, said Browne’s remarks about the unnamed judge were, “a threat to the very independence of the judiciary” and warned that they could erode the separation of powers and undermine public confidence in the administration of justice. Browne, responding on Thursday, rejected that characterisation and said he was not seeking to interfere with the constitutional independence or security of any judge.

“I reaffirm, without qualification, the importance of an independent and impartial judiciary,” Browne said. “However, it does not place judicial decisions or the administration of justice beyond reasoned public criticism.” The regional judicial leaders had condemned comments he made on August 10, when he said a judge whom he accused of having “a propensity to give criminals a break” should leave the country voluntarily or face deportation and being declared persona non grata if he failed to impose longer sentences. Browne also sought to distance his Government from any action against a member of the judiciary.

“To remove all doubt, there has never been any request or action by my Government to remove, reassign or deport any member of the judiciary,” he said. The prime minister nevertheless stood by his criticism of sentencing outcomes, arguing that his comments were prompted by concerns over firearm violence and statutory rape and what he described as unduly lenient sentences in some serious cases. Browne said his remarks were not intended to direct the outcome of any case, reopen a decided matter or encourage anyone to disregard a court order.

He described them instead as an attempt to bring attention to the judicial hierarchy and what he called the “indiscretion and deliberate disregard” of legislation providing for sentences of up to 15 years for serious firearms offences. “Judicial independence and institutional accountability are not opposing principles,” Browne said. “Our Government seeks no control over the decision of any court.

It does seek a criminal justice system that is lawful, proportion…