THE EDITOR, Sir:PERMIT ME to respond to Derek Jones' Letter of the Day regarding the AAOJ. I am extremely surprised at the unwarranted attack on the Advocates Association of Jamaica.
As a reminder to Mr. Jones the AAOJ was formed in 1991, because those of us who practised daily in the courts both Civil and Criminal (called advocates) were of the like view that the special interests of this grouping of attorneys were not being met and served by the JBA over the years.
Under the leadership of its first President, the late Ian Ramsay, Q.C., the association after extensive deliberations drafted, debated and passed unanimously a constitution on October 28, 1991. The paramount focus of the association was the standard of practice and ethics of its several members with a focus on legal education.
Yes, Mr. Jones, this association started the continuing legal education programme and I recall now president of the Bar, Ms. Hillary Phillips, Q.C., commending us on our seminars. Subsequently the Bar has walked in our footsteps in this regard.
In fact, prominent members of the Bar like Pamela Benka-Coker, Q.C., Margaret McCaulay, Berthan Macaulay, Q.C., Anthony Gifford, Q.C., Richard Small, Churchill Neita, Q.C. and others were integrally involved in the many debates in relation to the formation of the association.
Since then the AAOJ has been recognised by the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court, the Legal Aid Council, Ministry of Justice and the Bar Association.
Mr. Jones, too, recognised the association when he sought the support of its membership when Arlene Harrison-Henry, a member of the Advocates, ran as vice president and he ran for the second team as president.
The timing and tone of his letter, attempting to depreciate the value of the association on the eve of discussions, debates and voting on a resolution which would grant to the AAOJ automatic representation on the General Legal Council is to say the least, curious.
There is room for us all. All of us need to work at enhancing the quality of our profession and the thrust of the Advocates Association has always been to advance the professionalism of our country's advocates. We feel that in order to do this we must be included on bodies that make decisions affecting us and that we have, as a specialist association much to contribute to decisions that affect our profession.
I am, etc.,
VALERIE C. NEITA-ROBERTSON
Attorney-at-Law
