Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves has indicated that he may continue appointing an Attorney General from the civil service rather than selecting a political figure for the role.
Speaking in an interview with ANN, Gonsalves addressed concerns about the current Attorney General, Grenville Williams, and his involvement in active politics. When asked about the possibility of a new appointment, he stated, “We will cross that bridge when we get there.”
Gonsalves emphasized that the constitution allows for either a political or civil servant Attorney General but pointed to past issues with politically appointed individuals under the New Democratic Party (NDP).
“The NDP, during their time in office, went for a political Attorney General, and we all saw what happened,” he noted. “They had Emery—he had to resign, and we all know why. Then there was P.R. Campbell, my real bredrin, who also had to step down. Carl Joseph had to resign due to failure to comply with a court order for maintenance. I don’t want to go into details because these men have passed away. And Carlyle, my bredrin, we all know why he had to resign.”
In contrast, Gonsalves defended his administration’s track record of appointing Attorneys General from the civil service, highlighting its stability and professionalism.
“I, as Prime Minister, opted for a public servant as Attorney General, and we never had a problem with any of them,” he stated. “Some people tried to go after Judith Jones-Morgan through her husband, but that was really foolishness. When that was dealt with, the opposition faded away. Then there was Jaundy Martin, and now Grenville Williams.”
Gonsalves’ comments suggest he may lean toward maintaining a civil servant in the position rather than making a political appointment.