Registrar of the High Court, Tamara Gibson-Marks, who resigned her position on Wednesday was asked to do so by Attorney General Judith Jones-Morgan.Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves told I-Witness News on Monday.
He further said that the Commissioner of Police, Director of Audit, and Attorney General are looking into the development.
“The Honourable Attorney General advised me on Thursday morning last week that she (Marks) had resigned, with effect, I think, from Wednesday afternoon,” Gonsalves, who is also Minister of Legal Affairs, told I-Witness News.
He said he has not seen the letter or resignation, but said Marks resigned after a meeting with the Attorney General.
“I have been advised that the Attorney General requested a meeting with her (Marks), and as a consequence of that meeting, the Attorney General ether requested or demanded — I wasn’t present — her resignation.
“The Honourable Attorney General spoke to me about the meeting which she had, but I am not at liberty to speak about the content of what the Attorney General told me about that meeting,” Gonsalves further said.
Source in the know have said that funds are unaccounted for at The Registry, and when asked about this, Gonsalves said:
“What I can say is this: I know that three important offices of the state are engaged in the matter actively — the Director of Audit, the Commissioner of Police, and the Honourable Attorney General.”
Asked if this was some sort of inquiry or investigation, the Prime Minister said, “I believe that from the issue which have arisen, that it was considered by the Honourable Attorney General that all these agencies would be involved.”
Marks is the wife of prominent lawyer, Ronald “Ronnie” Marks, a former senator in Gonsalves Unity Labour Party administration.
Asked to comment on this, Gonsalves said, “The point about it is this, Mrs. Marks is a judicial officer, Mrs. Marks has resigned, there are three important offices of the state — the Honourable Attorney General’s office, the Office of the Commissioner of Police, and the Director of Audit — are actively engaged in certain matters and I believe in giving the institutions of the state an opportunity to do their work in the swiftest possible way and to do their work efficaciously and I expect that there are other authorities who would be engaged by the Honourable Attorney General and the Commissioner of Police.
“… the important thing is that as soon as a particular report was made to the honourable Attorney General, she acted expeditiously.”
Mrs. Marks took up her position around 2008.
Gonsalves said that the Attorney General has informed him that someone is acting as Registrar, and the Attorney General is making all the necessary arrangement to have continuity.
He further said that the Attorney General has informed the Chief Justice of the development.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Arnhim Eustace earlier Monday called on the government to issue a statement about Marks’ resignation.
“It is a very sensitive post, it has to do with our courts and it should be in everybody’s mind what the situation really is,” Eustace said on his radio programme.
“I don’t want to speculate, I believe it is the responsibility of the government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and specifically the Prime Minister, in his capacity as Minister of Legal Affairs, to say to the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines what in fact happened,” he said.
“We are all hearing about a resignation with immediate effect and we wish confirmation of that and the reasons for that.”
The Registrar is appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, which is chaired by the Chief Justice.
I hope this is not another investigation like the “Sexy Pastor” investigation. That investigation had no one suffering any consequences based on the claim that “no crime was committed” – which means no individual went on the record to complain that they were defrauded of their money. This is a totally different case. If it is deemed that she was involved in some malfeasance, then she must pay the full consequence. I am told that this lady may have left the country. If that is the case, the government of SVG must issue an extradition request to whichever country she resides in currently to bring her back to justice. This is a little much with the allegations of corruption in SVG. There must be a strong message sent that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated.
The point about it is this, Mrs. Marks is a judicial office, ??? I’m thinking this ought to read “judicial officer”.
Research on the usage of semi-colons. I can hear your commas crying out for help as they are over-used and misused.
Asked to comment on this, Gonsalves said, The point about it is this, Mrs. Marks is a judicial office, Mrs. Marks has resigned, there are three important offices of the state the Honourable Attorney Generals office, the Office of the Commissioner of Police, and the Director of Audit are actively engaged in certain matters and I believe in giving the institutions of the state an opportunity to do their work in the swiftest possible way and to do their work efficaciously and I expect that there are other authorities who would be engaged by the Honourable Attorney General and the Commissioner of Police.
Examine the paragraph above. Soo many sentences yet there is only one full-stop.
Please properly edit your work.They are laced with too many “second form” mistakes. I haven’t even tackled all.
To the best of my knowledge, no member of high society in SVG has ever gone to prison for a so-called white-collar crime. The late Othniel Sylvester who ripped the Danes off for millions died in voluntary exile in America rather than in prison in our blessed homeland. In fact, few members of the exalted elite are ever even charged for white-collar crimes. Even high class individuals who have committed cold-blooded murder are never charged, or get off the hook because they can afford the best legal team money can buy, or, at most, serve a few years on a lesser charge of manslaughter.
In civilized countries like the United States and Canada, the prisons and jails are full of wealthy people who have committed all manner of crimes.
Just another reason we are a backward, Third World country and destined to remain one till Kingdom come.
Who is this idiot talking about they are grammar police, all the thing in Vincy going wrong and this is what you are talking about? but way the tail I seeing here. On to more important things, nothing is going to happen to anyone, crooks always protect their friends. SVG is full of crooks and only when the government change office will people start going to jail. The fact that Vincentians believe that justice can be done in SVG under this regime is the funniest. Vincentians really are stupid.
My stomach can’t take any more corruption revelation in this hard country of ours. Since 2001 St. Vincent and the Grenadines has been hit by scandal after scandal- mainly the misappropriation of public funds under Ali Baba and the forty plus thieves in the ULP. What is it with these ULP crooks and pirates?? They are just out to rape this country; their salaries and allowances are never enough and they won’t ever be enough. Greed! Covetousness! Living above their means! Keeping up with the Jones! What shall it profit them to gain the whole world and lose their soul? Lard have mercy upon us if we ever make the mistake and put back those crooks into office!
On the global corruption meter, little St.Vincent is in a class by itself- at the very top! Thanks to the lead criminal lawyer who made his millions by defending crooks and thieves all over the world.
All Vincentians must realise that Ali Baba and the forty plus thieves did not put/cannot put themselves into office. It is we the people who are responsible. I don’t have much faith in the intelligence of the Vincentian electorates but I want to believe this time around that in the next general election their eyes would have opened to the truth about Gonsalves and his little family affairs that is badly affecting the whole of SVG.
I forgot to add that Mrs marks is such a pretty little girl from the photo; its hard to believe that she won’t feel satisfied with her husbands largesse from his legal practice. What a pretty little smile!!! Nice white teeth! Nice milk chocolate colour!! And look at that beautiful and expensive chain around the neck!!
Where is she from again?
Too many nepotism and cronyism when it comes to appointment to important positions under the Ralph Gonsalves led government. No advertisements are made for positions. Vincentians wake up daily to new appointments of friends and family of the ULP being given high paying positions . Today is the beginning of things to come as we await the way the cookie crumbles.
Grammar Police, I have made the same point on countless occasions, and have even complained about his use of “green verbs” as well.
Folks sit on the sidelines and say, “this our BEST Journalist.” ….Heaven help us!
Isn’t English Language a prerequisite to Journalism any longer?
Professional writers are, and must be, held to a higher standard. If our brightest and best write that sloppily, what could we expect from the man in the street?
I do not know if you are a Journalist, Grammar Police, but I certainly am not! I suspect however, that both of us have respect for grammar and will never butcher the English language.
Might I suggest: I haven’t even tackled them all.?
The Attorney General (AG) must have been so blindsided and utterly shocked by what came out in the meeting with Mrs Marks that she was unable to think []
I can’t recall an investigation of this magnitude being launched in recent memory. Three agencies are involved according to the PM but I am sure that our Director of Financial Intelligence will be joining the investigations pretty soon. After all, any proceeds from the alleged crimes would need to be seized and liquidated in order that the state may made whole.
This situation begs the question, who all knew or were accomplices to the misappropriation of funds from the Registry? Given the amount being whispered, it is hard to imagine that controls in the government are so lax that funds of this magnitude can go unaccounted for so easily.
Apparently not all crimes are equal these days. There seems to be a rash of white collar crimes in the goverment of late. Mini Madoffs abound with one distinction; none seem to go to jail. Misappropriate funds from the government and it seems one gets transferred, given a chance to repay or lose your job at the worse. []
Have we forgotten the Ottley Hall scandal under the NDP?
Ralph Gonsalves was the man to get debt relief on it.
The project was worth $16 million, and Ah-name Useless paid $19 million in interest!
‘Worth $16 million, and the NDP paid $200 million for it?
Who pocketed the difference? ………Who thief Ottley Hall money?
How about James Mitchell buying Canouan land for $50 thousand, and selling it for millions because he had INSIDE KNOWLEDGE of future developments?
Didn’t all the NDP ministers at the time, rip-off the country when they obtained government lands for pennies on the dollar?
How about the NDP minister who had 2 government vehicles at his disposal and drove them whenever he wished?
Look guys, you really do not want to go down this road !!!