High…

…fashionistas!!
Your Eyewitness was taken aback a bit to find out that the CCJ seemed to’ve unearthed one of the greatest threats to judicial independence: what Judges wear!! Evidently, CCJ President Anderson had insisted that Nigerian-born Justice Chile Eboe-Osuji stick to the Court’s traditional suit-and-tie attire for a case – rather than don his Nigerian national dress. Eboe-Osuji refused, and Anderson left him off the judicial panel!!
Amazingly, Justice Anderson’s now being accused of “panel fixing” – that is, choosing panels to slant the outcome!! But those baying for Anderson’s head should remember that judicial dress exists for a reason, and courts ain’t fashion shows!! What next?? Bikinis?? A Judge is supposed to submerge the individual behind the institution – and not enter courtrooms announcing, visually or otherwise, that “today I’m sitting as a Nigerian or Bajan”!!
Hadn’t the CCJ itself previously explained that decisions about judicial dress were among the foundational institutional choices that had to be made when the court was created? Its distinctive BLUE robes were deliberately designed to express a CARIBBEAN judicial identity – rather than the personal identity of individual Judges!! And hadn’t Anderson just circulated a proposal to revisit dress codes??
If Eboe-Osuji wants to wear “Nigerian” national wear, why should his Igbo garb trump Yoruba wear, for instance?? And can an Indigenous Guyanese Judge follow Shuman and show up with a flimsy grass skirt?? And before anyone gets on their high horse and objects that this is culturally insensitive, the point is precisely that courts have gotta be culturally NEUTRAL in their institutional presentation!!
Now, there’s nothing wrong with a Judge’s culture or national pride or Nigerian, Indian, or African attire – there’s simply a time and place for everything!! The Judge can celebrate his national heritage all he wants – OUTSIDE the courtroom!! In fact, Justice Anderson himself has stressed the CCJ bench’s diversity as one of its strengths!! But the courtroom is different – once the Judge sits, he or she ain’t no longer there as a Jamaican, Nigerian, Bajan or Trini!! – but a Judge of the CCJ!!
That’s why the accusation that Anderson’s enforcing a common dress standard amounts to authoritarianism is really beyond being over the top!! If anything, having a clearly defined institutional dress code is the opposite of an arbitrary personal rule – since it establishes a rule applying to EVERYONE!!
And that’s also where the “panel fixing” allegations become especially ludicrous, when they’re somehow connected to the wardrobe dispute!! After all, if Judges are permitted to improvise their own institutional identity, then that guarantees “panel shopping”!
Sometimes a dress code is just a dress code – and sometimes a Judge really gotta wear the prescribed robe!! Even if dull!!

…diesel prices
Your Eyewitness thinks it’s rather fortuitous the Wales Gas-to-Energy power plant’s gonna kick off this year!! As global energy markets face massive uncertainties, conflicts involving Russia and Ukraine, as well as tensions in Hormuz, are disrupting fuel supplies and trade routes – diesel-dependent electricity generation like GPL’s is becoming precarious!!
Our shift to natural gas-fired generation therefore couldn’t come at a more opportune moment!! Instead of relying so heavily on imported diesel, the Wales plant’s gonna use the natural gas from our offshore oil platforms – providing a secure source of electricity while reducing generation costs and pollution!
The timing’s especially important, since global diesel supplies look like they’re remaining tight and prices are more volatile!! Our oil wealth’s finally being translated into an energy source that can reduce one of our country’s vulnerabilities – dependence on imported fuel to keep the lights and ACs on!!
It’s ironic that the GtE Project – often criticised for its delays – is gonna be arriving just when the lights may’ve gone out!!

…beginning
Well, they’re off and running in this year’s CPL tournament!! And our Warriors started out in fine style away from home – as they took on the new Jamaica Kingsman in their home.
And beat them handily – overs to spare!! Go Warriors!!