Yet another barrage of stinging criticism against Government’s proposed draft constitutional reform was levelled yesterday, this time by president of the Law Association, Martin Daly.

Daly delivered the attack as he attended a brief welcoming ceremony to the High Court for former acting Director of Public Prosecutions, Carla Brown-Antoine.

Brown-Antoine was officially welcomed to the bench by Justices Sebastian Ventour and Maureen Rajnauth-Lee in the Port of Spain 3 courtroom, one day after being sworn in at President’s House.

Also gathered were Assistant DPP Joan Honore-Paul, Senior Counsel Gilbert Peterson, Registrar General Evelyn Ann-Peterson and attorney Rajiv Persad, who represented the Criminal Bar Association.

Daly, in his address to the gathering, referred to Justice Brown-Antoine as being ’a burst of sunshine in the midst of what have been several cloudy months for the Judiciary and the administration of justice’.

He said the country had suffered a loss when ’we were deprived of confirmation of your services as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The damage to the office of DPP is continuing and highly regrettable’.

Daly said he wished to congratulate her on behalf of the Law Association.

Making reference to statements made by Chief Justice Ivor Archie, who on Wednesday at the opening of the new law term expressed concern over the draft Constitution proposal and its impact on the independence of the judiciary, Daly said ’the intention of the political executive, if permitted, to take the retrograde step of establishing a Ministry of Justice to interfere in the institutional independence of the judiciary’ was a cause for concern.

Noting that vacancies in key law offices-including the DPP and Solicitor General- were yet to be filled, and ’ill considered statements by persons who should know better that struck out affidavits may not be used’, Daly said the association has been looking on with concern and will soon state their position on various matters.

Peterson, SC, and Persad also applauded Justice Brown-Antoine’s rise to the bench.

Following the speeches, a beaming Justice Brown-Antoine thanked those gathered and said she was glad to be on the bench.