Former Law Association head Martin Daly, SC, has welcomed Integrity Commission chairman Zainool Hosein’s decision to resign as head of the Retired Judges’ Association. Hosein, who was sworn in on Friday, originally dismissed objections to his decision to retain his other post, as he said there was no conflict of interest between his being Integrity Commission chairman and head of the association.
On Tuesday Justice Clebert Brooks, secretary of the association, issued a media release announcing Hosein’s resignation. Yesterday Daly, in a brief statement said: “It turns out the media was speaking good English and he eventually understood it.”
After being sworn in, Hosein refused to answer repeated questions from the media on the issue after he said there was no conflict of interest, accusing them of being unable to understand English. Hosein did not give a reason this week for his change of heart. Yesterday People’s National Movement (PNM) public relations officer Faris Al-Rawi said he could not comment on Hosein’s decision in the absence of a reason being given for his resignation.
He added: “Mr Justice Hosein’s resignation from the Retired Judges’ Association without any explanation as to the reason for same really leaves this issue in a vacuum. “It would be irresponsible of me to make any comment one way or the other on the issue unless more information is had.”
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Last week the PNM cited a possible conflict of interest in the former Appeal Court judge’s presiding over matters involving Independent Liberal Party (ILP) leader Jack Warner. The party’s complaint centred on the fact that Hosein was one of three legal experts who gave Warner a legal opinion on the Concacaf ethics report by Sir David Simmons in April 2013. The post became vacant after Ken Gordon left office on October 31 at the end of his three-year term.