By Stephen Cummings
Caribbean Net News Trinidad and Tobago Correspondent
Email: stephen@caribbeannetnews.com

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad:- Trinidad and Tobago Transparency Institute the National Chapter of Transparency International has launched a report on Global Corruption.

Entitled: Global Corruption Report 2007, it looks at corruption in judicial systems around the world and makes several recommendations for its prevention.

Chairman of the institute, Victor Hart, says although it contains no more than a passing reference to Trinidad and Tobago, anyone interested in ensuring confidence in our judicial system will surely find much of it useful.

Contained in the report are recommendations for a code of conduct to provide a guide and measure of judicial conduct; confidential and rigorous formal procedure for complaints against judges, court administrators or lawyers; and an independent Judges' Association to represent its members in all interactions with the State and its offices.

The GCR presents 28 comparative essays on judicial corruption, 32 country reports and several empirical studies.

It also illustrates that judicial corruption generally occurs not only when matters are before the courts but extends from pre-trial activities among other matters.

The Transparency institute says it will be distributing a limited number of copies of the report to key stakeholders and institutions.

And still on matters of the judiciary, Chief Justice Satnarine Sharma has begun assembling a battery of lawyers to deal with moves to investigate him.

This follows the decision by Prime Minister Patrick Manning who has recommended that a tribunal be set up to look into the conduct of the Chief Justice who has been accused of interfering in the outcome of the Basdeo Panday trial. 

Attorneys for the Chief Justice reportedly met late Wednesday in closed session, but remained tightlipped on exactly what course of action they will take.

A source close to the Chief Justice is quoted as saying that ne wants a public inquiry into the matter and was fully prepared to defend himself before the tribunal.

Meanwhile, Justice Sharma, has until Monday May 28 to respond to the Prime Minister's request on if the Chief Justice should be suspended from office until the end of the tribunal's investigations.