By ONIKA JAMES Wednesday, March 10 2010

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Roger Gaspard ...

Congratulations rang out from every corner of the Judiciary but none louder than from Gaspard’s office. Although they opted to remain anonymous several State attorneys said they were elated by the appointment.

“We could not ask for a better decision. This is truly a proud moment for us. Our colleague deserves it. He is competent and we intend to support him all the way,” a state attorney said.



Gaspard has been an Assistant DPP for the past 19 years. Last September, the Judicial and Legal Services Commission (JLSC) nominated him for the post, however, Prime Minister Patrick Manning vetoed that nomination and instead appointed him to act in the position.



Gaspard received an extension when his acting stint ended on December 31. He was given an extension to the end of this month. Gaspard was among four persons interviewed for the post of DPP, two weeks ago.



He along with London Crown Court Prosecutor Travers Sinanan, Deputy DPP Wayne Rajbansie, and Attorney Indra Ramoutar, were interviewed on the third floor of the Hall of Justice on Wednesday February 10.



On February 22, the JLSC unanimously selected Gaspard to fill the post of DPP.



On Friday last, Manning gave his approval for the nomination. Head of the Magistrates’ Association Lucina Cardenas-Ragonanan issued congratulations.



“Certainly congratulations are in order for Mr Gaspard. We are happy for him and we know he will do a great job. We are happy to have a DPP. We feel it is important that the position is properly stabilised so that we can get on with the work. We hope this will mean quicker prosecutions. We are not getting it done fast enough and we hope that this process will be speeded up,” Cardenas-Ragoonanan said.



Senior Counsel Gilbert Peterson also congratulated the new DPP. “It is a very strong appointment. A good choice. I think he is independent and able. It is a very, very good choice and it is a choice which will be welcomed by the entire bar,” Peterson said.



The post of DPP was last held by Geoffrey Henderson who is now a Civil Judge at the San Fernando High Court. Since his elevation to judgeship, Carla Brown-Antoine also acted in the position and applied for the post; however she was vetoed by Prime Minister Patrick Manning. Brown-Antoine was later elevated to a High Court Judge.