The Trinidad and Tobago Government has decided to go to court, to determine whether or not judges are entitled to sabbatical leave.
Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley yesterday announced that he had instructed the Attorney General to take the necessary legal steps to have the court clarify whether there exists a legitimate expectation by any member of the judiciary to access sabbatical leave.
This comes as the country’s Chief Justice Ivor Archie recently changed his sabbatical leave to vacation leave.
Speaking at yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing on Archie’s controversial sabbatical leave – the basis and authority for which Rowley has disputed with President Anthony Carmona — Rowley said Cabinet had objected to Carmona granting Archie’s sabbatical leave without Cabinet authority.
And if the Chief Justice is going on extended vacation leave, we draw the attention of other office-holders that there are laws governing these developments,” Rowley said according to the Trinidad Guardian.
Among reasons for seeking court ruling on the sabbatical issue, Rowley revealed, is conflicting legal advice. He said one set of senior counsel advice was received by the Attorney General and another was received by him.
