Wednesday, February 6 2013

THE APPOINTMENT of a new President has created something of a legal quandary for the tribunal appointed to probe deputy chairman of the Integrity Commission Gladys Gafoor by outgoing President George Maxwell Richards.

The tribunal was appointed to probe and advise the President on the question of whether Gafoor should be removed from the post on the basis of allegations brought against her by the other members of the Commission.

However, the tribunal has never met and a stay was imposed by the Court of Appeal when Gafoor took the matter to court in two lawsuits. President Richards’ term is due to end on March 17. He is to be replaced by Justice Anthony Carmona. It remains unclear whether the outgoing President will disband the tribunal before the expiry of the term or whether the tribunal members will resign.

A further complication comes from the fact that Gafoor’s term at the Integrity Commission is due to end on March 15, two days before President Richards demits office. It is unclear whether Gafoor will offer herself for re-appointment (she did not respond to calls yesterday) or whether the President would renew her appointment in the absence of findings from the stayed tribunal.