THE PLP DECRYS APPOINTMENT OF RUTH BOWE DARVILLE

PROGRESSIVE LIBERAL PARTY VICE CHAIRMAN 

OBIE ROBERTS 

STATEMENT ON THE APPOINTMENT OF RUTH BOWE-DARVILLE AS JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

31 May 2019

The PLP notes with great consternation the appointment of Ruth Bowe-Darville as Justice of the Supreme Court. 

This is one of the FMN’s most blatantly political judicial appointments, Ruth having severed officially in a number of capacities in the Free National Movement and who we are told has most recently worked as an election agent for the FNM and campaign general. 

She must be the ‘people’ of whom the FNM spoke when they said it’s the people’s time. 

Her appointment is the latest in the FNM’s attempt to politicize our courts. If you recall, Duane Sands’ sister, G. Diane Stewart , was recently made a judge. 

Aside, from the political nature of this appointment, which cannot be overlooked, Ruth Bowe-Darville will be 65 years old in a matter of days, the age of retirement for judges. In a few days, Ruth must apply for her appointment to be specially extended past the retirement age. Why appoint her now? This must be her political reward for supporting Dr. Minnis when many in the party wouldn’t. 

The Bahamas is a society based on the rule of law. Our very success is due to the fact that the world sees us as a stable democracy with an independent judiciary and that Bahamians can rely on an impartial court. The FNM is playing with fire by setting us on a path of a political judiciary. 

END