CATEGORY:LEGAL MATTER
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By Wallave J.A, Inside Grenada correspondent
Friday October 20,2006


ST. GEORGE ‘S, Grenada – Rudolph Holligan, a Guyanese national who has been residing in Grenada for some time now, will be deported from the country on Saturday. Mr. Holligan has been employed as a construction worker on the island.

According to Mr. Hugh Wildman, special adviser to the Grenadian Cabinet, the Government of Grenada sought to deport Mr. Holligan from the country because he was deemed an undesirable person on the island.

While addressing the nation sometime ago, Senator Einstein Louison, who is responsible for national security, stated that the Guyanese national was not deported from the island because his work permit had expired.

Mr. Holligan, through the law office of Ciboney Chambers, challenged the Grenadian Government’s decision to deport him and an injunction was filed in court against the decision. The deportation of Holligan was appealed through the High Court and the matter was heard in St.Vincent.

In a press conference yesterday, lawyers for Mr. Holligan - Mr. Ruggles Ferguson, President of the Grenada Bar association; and Mr. Peter David, Parliamentary Representative for the town of St. George and an executive member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) - sought to give their side of the story.

The two lawyers informed the press gathering that the deportation of Holligan was a serious matter and they intend to get some answers from the relevant sources surrounding the decision to deport their client.

According to Mr. Ruggles Ferguson, the Labour Laws of Grenada state that the holder of a work permit should be given notice before the person is asked to leave the country. He was of the view that this was not done in the case of his client.

In the meantime, Mr. Holligan, who is the man at the center of this latest row, stated that he did not know why he was being deported. He stated that he loves Grenada and had assisted in repairing damaged roofs in the country during the post-Ivan period. He informed members of the press that he was well-respected in Guyana and also in the village where he resided while in Grenada. He said that he respects everyone and focuses his attention on his family and on the reading of the scriptures.

This is the latest row involving members of the law fraternity in Grenada and the government. It would seem that in recent times, the relationship between some members of the Bar Association and the Government has not been as healthy as in past years; accusing fingers have been pointing in both directions.

Sometime ago (on October 13, 2006), while delivering the throne speech at the Grenada Trade Center, Governor General Sir Daniel Williams stated that the government was very concerned about abuses within the legal system and is considering putting structures in place to address them. In turn, some members of the legal profession have accused members of government or their agents of interfering with the independence of the judiciary.