From:TheBahamasWeekly.com
Bahamas AG & Minister of Legal Affairs remarks a at 4th working visit of HM Privy Council
By Bahamas AG Allyson Maynard-Gibson
Feb 20, 2017 - 1:09:07 PM
Bahamas Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Senator the Hon. Allyson Maynard-Gibson at a Special Sitting to mark the 4th working visit of Her Majesty’s Privy Council
20 February 2017
My Lords Mance, Kerr, Sumption, Reed and Hughes and Madam President and Justices of the Court of Appeal; Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court; Magistrates; Registrars of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court; former Justices of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court; His Grace the Archbishop of the Catholic Diocese.
In the Preamble of The Bahamas’ Constitution we acknowledge that the preservation of our freedom will be guaranteed by among other things an abiding respect for Christian values and the Rule of Law.
That same Constitution established the Judiciary as an independent, separate and equal branch of government, and the Privy Council as the highest court in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas. It is an honour and a great privilege to welcome you to The Bahamas where this week you sit for the fourth time. Thanks to the vision and diligence of the President of the Court of Appeal the facilities in which you sit are much different than when you sat last – in 2009.
We have been blessed in our country with learned, strong, and accomplished judges, whose capabilities and independence are well-established. In today’s world, we know better than to take the separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary for granted. Indeed, these cornerstones of freedom and democracy must be continually supported and strengthened.
The principle of the rule of law was cogently summarized by the late Lord Denning, some 40 years ago, when he cited Thomas Fuller’s words from 300 years prior: “Be you ever so high, the law is above you.”
And today citizens throughout the Commonwealth -- and beyond -- know that their fundamental rights depend on a uniform application of the law by a judiciary that is guided by precedent and the rule of law, rather than politics or public opinion.
Your sitting this week underscores the importance of these principles. We pray success on your deliberations.
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