Lawyer Shirlan ‘Zita” Barnwell says there is no conflict of interest in her being a member of the Public Service Commission and Police Service Commission (PSC) as her firm no longer represent the Public Service Union (PSU).
The law firm Thomas and Barnwell, whose other partner is Jomo Thomas, successfully represented the PSU in a number of lawsuits against the Unity Labour Party (ULP) administration, which was voted out of office on Nov. 27, after 25 years.
Both Barnwell and Thomas actively represented the union in those matters, but she was sworn in as a member of the PSC on Dec. 31, 2025, triggering questions about potential conflicts of interest.
“We do not represent the PSU anymore,” Barnwell told iWitness News when asked about potential conflicts of interest.
She said that Frederick Attorney now represents PSU, with Maxron Holder as lead counsel on matters related to the union.
Holder confirmed to iWitness News that his chambers have been representing the PSU for more than a year.
Meanwhile, Barnwell told iWitness News that her firm’s retainer with the PSU ended almost two years go.
“… since the vaccine mandate matter, there’s no new contract with the Public Service Union … So, there was no retainer agreement in respect of other work than the vaccine mandate.”
The lawyer, however, confirmed that her firm is still representing the PSU in the vaccine mandate case now before the Privy Council.
“… that’s a matter now that is far gone and does not directly impact on any current decision, as the state has already made an arrangement to have those workers return to work,” Barnwell told iWitness News.
She said there are legal questions that the Privy Council is expected to rule on that will guide the manner in which the PSC operates in the future.
Barnwell said her firm will be involved in arguing the case before the Privy Council, but neither she nor Thomas is lead counsel.
“Lead Counsel will be Cara Shillingford and a UK King’s Counsel who’s on the case,” Barnwell said.
She said her experience prosecuting the PSC could help it avoid some of the issues that led to PSU’s lawsuits.
“I think that’s the most fabulous thing,” Barnwell told iWitness News.
“Given the fact that I do understand the regulations, I do understand what were the shortcomings or inadequacies of the Public Service Commission, and so it informs how the public service commission should operate within the law going forward,” she told iWitness News.
“… I’m hopeful that whenever any matter or any challenge comes up from any public servant … that the matter should not go to court,” Barnwell said.
Even through the darkest phase
Be it thick or thin
Always someone marches brave
Here beneath my skin
Maybe a great magnet pulls
All souls towards truth
Or maybe it is life itself
Feeds wisdom
To its youth
Constant craving
Someone ask Friday to get the NDP folks to submit their financial position in order to keep criminals from accepting bribes when they are in charge. I hope he look very closely into this idea. Many people enter with little money and leave with millions not from their salaries.