AG on the defense with CJ: PM still silent

AG on the defense with CJ: PM still silent
Attorney General Carl Bethel. (FILE PHOTO)

Up to this point Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis remains silent on the vacancy of the chief justice post. Wednesday, reporters attempted to speak to the prime minister but he refused to respond to questions surrounding the issue.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Carl Bethel, speaking with Eyewitness News yesterday, dismissed claims of a conflict of interest in a civil litigation against the Attorney General’s office.

The allegations come on the heels of suggestions that Bethel is set to be named as the country’s next chief justice.

In an interview with Eyewitness News yesterday, Bethel would not respond to questions on the chief justice post or whether he would accept the position if offered however, he said that the post is filled at the discretion of the prime minister.

Bethel also admitted that he did serve as the attorney in a private civil matter against the AG’s office but insisted he divested those interest following his appointment.

“The allegations are spurious,” he said.

“Yes, I acted in a civil matter on behalf of a client against the AG’s office but, immediately when I was appointed, I disclosed.”

Bethel said he also informed the AG’s office that he had no interest in the matter and did not want to be informed of the progress of the case.

“I did not want to know what is being done with that case and I removed myself …If we needed a minister of the government to go to Cabinet then they can go to the State Minister of Legal Affairs Elsworth Johnson on it,” he said.

Bethel further explained that it was customary for attorneys appointed to public office to fully disclose.

“As other attorney generals before me who have had a list of cases have done, they disclosed all of the cases.”

About Genea Noel

Genea Noel is the news director and weeknight TV news anchor at Eyewitness News. She began working at Eyewitness News in 2018 as the newsroom editor and was subsequently promoted during her tenure. As a household name who graces the screens of thousands of Bahamian homes each night, Genea has racked up an impressive five Bahamas Press Club awards, including “The Cyril Stevenson Award for Outstanding Political Journalism” (2020), “Best Studio Live Producer” (2020) and “Best Newscast” (2018).