Home » Posts » Bar association president chastised for criticizing accused attorney

Bar association president chastised for criticizing accused attorney

by Randy Bennett
3 min read
A+A-
Reset

Outspoken attorney-at-law Queen’s Counsel Andrew Pilgrim has admonished president of the Barbados Bar Association and fellow Queen’s Counsel, Rosalind Smith-Millar after she expressed disappointment at lawyer George Bennett’s appearance before the law courts.

On Wednesday, the 61-year-old Bennett, an attorney-at-law and former Inspector of Police, of No.103, 1st Avenue Warners Gardens, Christ Church, and co-accused, 33-year-old Guyanese national Dharma Rudradeo were remanded to HMP Dodds by Chief Magistrate Ian Weekes.

They are jointly charged with possession, trafficking and intent to supply 253 kilogrammes of cannabis worth just over $2 million.
Bennett is facing the additional charges of obstructing and assaulting Sergeants Fabian Griffith and Erica Maynard in the execution of their duties and resisting lawful arrest. He is also charged with having 19 rounds of ammunition in his possession without a permit to do so and that having resigned as member of the Royal Barbados Police Force he failed to return property belonging to the Crown.

In an interview on Thursday, Smith-Millar said she was disappointed that yet another attorney-at-law had been charged in connection with a criminal matter.

Bennett’s legal troubles come on the heels of attorneys-at-law Vonda Pile and Cherene Parris serving prison sentences at HMP Dodds after being convicted of misappropriation of client funds.

“I am very disappointed and unhappy to see a member of the legal profession – a former senior police officer and now attorneyat-law – charged with the matters that he has been. However, the matter is before the court and I have no further comment on that specific matter with Mr Bennett.

“Generally speaking, of course we are absolutely against the commission of crime by any person but most especially by attorneys-at-law who know the law and should know better,” Smith- Millar said.

But in an interview with Barbados TODAY, Pilgrim said the association president should have known better than to make such comments before Bennett had been convicted.

He said being charged with an offence did not automatically make that individual a criminal, as all persons are innocent until proven guilty.

“I would like to go on record as condemning the remarks of Rosalind Smith-Millar, QC, president of the Barbados Bar Association. We can excoriate, insult and criticize people when they are found guilty. We cannot do that when they are charged. It is entirely inappropriate for a person in her position to make these types of remarks.

“The moment that a person is accused in Barbados, ordinary people in the street who are not educated and who don’t understand principles may go on record as condemning those persons who have been charged but someone in her position should know better. This is most unfortunate,” Pilgrim said.

“It begs the question and it lends into this whole thing of once you’re charged you’re guilty, so it affects how people see persons who get charged. The fact that you are charged doesn’t mean that you’re guilty. If a senior lawyer is saying that it allows people to draw that conclusion…,” he added. (RB)

You may also like

About Us

Barbados Today logos white-14

The (Barbados) Today Inc. is a privately owned, dynamic and innovative Media Production Company.

Useful Links

Get Our News

Newsletter

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

Barbados Today logos white-14

The (Barbados) Today Inc. is a privately owned, dynamic and innovative Media Production Company.

BT Lifestyle

Newsletter

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Accept Privacy Policy

-
00:00
00:00
Update Required Flash plugin
-
00:00
00:00