With voters heading to the polls on Wednesday and the swearing-in of a Prime Minister and Attorney General expected the following day, political scientists Devaron Bruce and Peter Wickham have outlined who they believe may be best placed to serve as Attorney General under either major political party.
Dale Marshall, the outgoing Attorney General who recently announced his retirement from elective politics, remains in the position until his replacement is sworn in.
Under the Constitution, the prime minister and chief legal adviser must be inaugurated to lead the new administration following election day, and before the rest of the Cabinet.
For the Barbados Labour Party (BLP), Bruce identified attorneys-at-law Michael Lashley, Gregory Nicholls and Kerrie Symmonds as the strongest contenders should they win their seats.
He pointed to St James Central candidate Symmonds as a particularly strong option, citing his extensive litigation experience and seniority within the party.
“He’s one of the more senior members of the Barbados Labour Party. He has held senior positions, including in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so he is certainly someone I would take into consideration,” Bruce said.
He also identified Michael Lashley, candidate for The City, as a serious contender, noting his background in criminal law and private practice. But he suggested that the transition from defending accused persons to enforcing the law as attorney general could present challenges.
“Certainly, he would no longer be able to practise criminal law as Attorney General, and given his long-standing presence in that field, it may be an uncomfortable shift,” he explained. “To move from representing criminal defendants to being the chief enforcer of the law is not an easy switch.”
His final BLP pick was Gregory Nicholls, the St Thomas candidate, whom he described as having a strong foundation in constitutional law.
“He is known as one of the government’s defenders of legislation in the Senate and has a long history within the legal space,” Bruce said. “He is also a strong orator on legal matters and has the gravitas and confidence that the role requires.”
While noting that several BLP candidates are lawyers, Bruce suggested that many do not possess the legal specialisation best suited for the AG’s role.
Turning to the Democratic Labour Party (DLP), Bruce identified Verla Depeiza, Neil Marshall and Corey Greenidge as possible options.
“The first person who comes to mind within that space, not electorally but possibly through the Senate, would be Verla Depeiza,” he said.
Among candidates contesting seats, Bruce questioned whether Greenidge has had sufficient experience within the legal profession to assume the role.
“I’m not sure he has had a long enough stint in the legal space to be Attorney General,” he said.
Bruce suggested Marshall may be the DLP’s strongest option, citing his background in constitutional law and litigation.
“I think Neil Marshall may very well be the only individual who fits that mould,” he said. “He has the legal background and expertise required, while others are still relatively young in the profession.”
Political analyst and regional pollster Peter Wickham offered a shorter list, which included Wilfred Abrahams, the BLP’s candidate for Christ Church East.
“He has acted as Attorney General whenever Dale Marshall was absent,” Wickham said. “He is Minister of Home Affairs, which is almost an Attorney General-type role, given his responsibility for the police, defence force and prisons. Logically, the next step would be Attorney General.”
Wickham also suggested the Democratic Labour Party could select attorney-at-law Adriel Brathwaite as a senator.
“That is always possible because Adriel is currently out of Parliament, but he could be appointed through the Senate,” he said. “While there are people like Neil Marshall on the ground, I’m not sure he is sufficiently senior to be considered Attorney General at this stage.”
Wickham added that, based on the limited experience and his knowledge of the other legal candidates, he was uncertain they would be suitable for the role.
He also noted that, under Westminster tradition, parties typically indicate their intended Attorney General before election day.
“Normally, a party that is coming in would announce who is going to be the attorney general so voters go to the polls with that knowledge,” Wickham said. “That announcement is usually made the night before or days ahead of the election, so we may hear [Tuesday night] who is being considered.”
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