The Grenada Bar Association (GBA) yesterday paid tribute to retiring acting Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Sir Brian Alleyne while calling for a change in the laws regarding the appointment of his successor. GBA President Ruggles Ferguson said there was need for an urgent review of the current policy that calls for the unanimous approval of all heads of government of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) regarding the appointment of a chief justice. Sir Brian, who spent 42 years in the legal profession, is due to leave office next month. Addressing a special sitting of the High Court, Ferguson said the chief justice should be appointed by a majority vote. “In this regard, the current approach by the Caribbean Court of Justice amended in response to proposals made by the regional bars, is worthy of examination,” Ferguson told a packed courtroom including regional lawyers as well as retired high court judges. “Let the Judicial and Legal Services Commission screen and shortlist appointees with the chief justice being chosen from among the short listed appointees by a majority and not by a unanimous vote by the heads of government. Only then would we see an end to the Hollywood style acting appointments to the Office of Chief Justice.” The GBA has also called for a reversal of the mandatory retirement age of 65 for OECS chief justices. Sir Brian, a former attorney-general in Dominica, also served as a High Court judge in Grenada and there has been much speculation that his appointment as chief justice had been barred by the Grenada government because it was unhappy with some of his rulings. Reprinted from sunnews.com