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Last night, we told you about the latest developments in the dispute between the Police Association and the Police Commissioner.   The Association’s Chairman, Corporal Eldon Arzu, has come under fire from members of his own executive who say that he is unilaterally filing a lawsuit on behalf of the Association, without getting the permission of the executive. They also say that by his actions, Arzu is giving the wrong impression to the general public that he and the Association have somehow been victimized by the police top brass.

But, whether or not members of the Executive support the lawsuit, the association’s name is the one on the claim form, and the matter is filed before the court. Justice Shona Griffith scheduled a hearing today, where she heard from attorneys representing the Association, and the Government, since the Attorney General’s Ministry is representing the Police Commissioner. The Association is applying for judicial review of a decision that Commissioner Williams recently made. In January, he signed a statutory instrument which limits the number of terms that a Chairman can serve. That means that, by this SI, the current chairman, Eldon Arzu, is well over the allowed limit. 

The hearing was brief, and at its conclusion, the judge adjourned the case until May 6, to give the claimants an opportunity to amend their claim, and to give the Attorney General’s Ministry time to respond. On that date, the judge will hear full arguments as to why she should or shouldn’t grant permission to Arzu and the Association to bring their claim for judicial review.

Outside of court, Arzu - the man on the hot seat - declined comment, but his attorney spoke with us briefly:

Stacy Grinage - Attorney for the Claimants
"Well we filled an application for permission to commence a judicial review claim against the commissioner of police based on certain decisions he made which were conveyed to Corporal Arzu and we thought - we think that there were some errors in coming to those decisions and we have to apply for permission first for judicial review; so that is what we were here for. We had an exchange in court and we will need to amend our application further and so we will be returning - we have a further date to return once it's amended."

Reporter
"What remedy are you seeking from the court?"

Stacy Grinage
"We're seeking the administrative remedies of certiorari and prohibition to have the commissioner's decision squashed."

Daniel Ortiz
"It appears as though the judge was not in agreement with some of the submissions you were attempting to make."

Stacy Grinage
"I don't think we reach that point of whether she was in agreement or not. I think she had some preliminary questions that were put to our side."

We’ll keep following the case.