Former Police Commissioner Criticizes Bar Association Over Silence Amid Alleged Executive Attacks on Judiciary
Former Commissioner of Police Rawlston Pompey has slammed the Antigua and Barbuda Bar Association (ABBA) for what he perceives as its weak response to the perceived verbal attacks by members of the Executive on the Judiciary.
Pompey, known for his outspoken views, described the Association as “moribund,” accusing it of failing to adequately defend the independence and integrity of the courts.
Pompey’s comments were prompted by a statement purportedly issued by the ABBA, which expressed concern over what it described as a “troubling trend” of Executive members criticizing judicial officers and the courts. The former top cop, however, was unimpressed, dismissing the statement as timid and lacking in substance.
He suggested that the Bar Association’s leadership, including its Council and President, appeared to have been “environmentally forced to arise from insipidity,” implying that the Association had been spurred into action by external pressures rather than any genuine commitment to upholding the rule of law.
Pompey also took issue with the stance of certain Executive members who have publicly questioned the leniency of some judicial sentences. He argued that the Bar Association should focus on the “grievous nature” of certain criminal acts and their impact on society, the rule of law, and national security, rather than defending the Judiciary against such criticisms.
“While a Prime Minister cannot easily separate personal opinions from their official position, it is certainly not the role of the Attorney General—who also holds legislative and national responsibilities—to bring administrative displeasure to the Judiciary,” Pompey remarked. He alluded to the unique position of Sir Steadroy “Cutie” Olivero Benjamin, who simultaneously serves as a member of the Executive, the Legislature, and holds significant influence over the Judiciary.
In his scathing review, Pompey did not shy away from highlighting what he sees as the Bar Association’s failure to police its own members. He accused a small minority within the legal fraternity of engaging in “questionable exploits” that have brought the profession into disrepute, further eroding public confidence in the legal system.
Pompey ended his critique with a sarcastic recommendation for those in the legal community to “screw up your faces as much as possible” and internalize his message, even suggesting that they might need “15 grams of tampie”—a local colloquialism—for stress relief, cautioning them to avoid public displays.
The former Commissioner’s comments have ignited a broader debate about the role and effectiveness of the Antigua and Barbuda Bar Association in safeguarding the independence of the Judiciary, as well as the appropriate limits of Executive commentary on judicial matters. As tensions between branches of government continue to simmer, the Association’s next moves will be closely watched.
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