The brouhaha in respect of the award of "silk" to certain members of the legal profession still rages on, so what is the solution?

The award of silk is a time-honoured reward for those who have displayed excellence at the Bar. Abolition of this honour will be a knee-jerk reaction and is tantamount to throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

It is clear, therefore, that to promote excellence at the Bar, we must retain the award of Senior Counsel as it will serve the purpose of encouraging counsel towards excellence and professionalism. However, certain parameters must be established and an independent committee appointed to set the criteria and make the necessary recommendations without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.

Only in this way can we project to the outside world that we are a mature people and not subject to knee-jerk reactions as we are wont to do. So let's put the quarrels behind us and move on.

Dr Clifford Ramcharan

St Augustine