There has been much debate over the fact that, even past his retirement, Supreme Court Judge, John Troadio Gonzalez, 66, had been sitting on the bench – more so controversial because he has been chosen to preside over the high profile case of the Brannon brothers’ murder, for which Taedron Bennett, 27, and Joseph Kee, 29, are facing trial.
It has been reported by this newspaper that Gonzalez, who retired earlier this year, had stayed on to write up some overdue judgments. Today, the Senate gave its stamp of approval for Gonzalez’s retroactive reappointment for a temporary 1-year term. The Senate agreed that the appointment should start September 1, 2008, and continue until 31 August 2009.
The one-year contract has yet to be formalized by the Governor-General, who is the person empowered to put the appointment into effect.
Senator Godwin Hulse pointed out that such appointments are still within the purview of the Senate. Constitutional amendments that remove the appointment of judges from the Senate’s jurisdiction are still on hold, pending the outcome of a challenge in the Court of Appeal concerning other sections of the Belize Constitution 6th Amendment Bill.
Senators today cited continuing concerns over the extent to which the current judiciary has been overloaded with both civil and criminal cases.
Justice Gonzalez was first appointed a justice 15 years ago (in 1993). He has served also as acting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (1999-2000), and earlier as Chief Magistrate and Director of Public Prosecutions.
Apart from Gonzalez’s temporary appointment, the Senate also approved a motion for a US$500,000 loan from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).
The CDB loan is a concessionary loan with a two-year grace period for repayment, and a 2.5% interest rate. The loan is to be repaid with 32 equal installments due quarterly, with the first disbursement expected next month and full disbursement by the end of June 2009.
According to the Government, the funds are for the rehabilitation of communication and access routes, as well as the utility infrastructure damaged by Tropical Storm Arthur in June.
Additionally, the Senate approved amendments to the Disaster Preparedness and Response Act, for the formal declaration of disaster areas in the aftermath of natural disasters. The amendment bill was taken through all its stages at today’s sitting of the Senate.
At the close of today’s one-hour meeting, at around 11:30 a.m., two Senators acknowledged Garifuna Settlement Day celebrations, slated for Wednesday, November 19, as well as the contributions of the Garinagu, particularly in the field of education.