Tales From the Courts – Marva Clarke Gone: Oh Happy Day Part XV

For some years now, BU has been seeking the removal of the Registrar, Marva Clarke. Now, she is gone.

We are told that it was voluntary and that she was not asked to resign, but that she did so anyway, since it had been made clear to her that, under Gibson CJ, she would never be promoted to the Bench. Which, if you think about it, is precisely the same thing.

Some months ago during the sick leave of Elneth Kentish, instead of bringing Marva Clarke in as an acting high court judge, Magistrate Pamela Beckles who had been lauded by the CCJ for the way in which she conducts her court, was brought in. Marva Clarke was reportedly furious and immediately “sanctioned” any directives given her by the CJ, in a fit of pique.

Just a few weeks ago, former registrar Michelle Weekes, had occasion to write to a judge in a costs matter involving the much reported Knox v Deane saga, stating that she had sent her records of a costs hearing to Marva Clarke to be placed before the court and could not understand why this had not been done. In order to facilitate the court, former registrar Weekes provided to the court copies of what she had sent a year previously to Marva Clarke.

It was under the watch of Marva Clarke that certain licensed legal practitioners in Barbados served notice of impending legal action against the Attorney General and joining the Registrar, because they had been left off the official list of those holding practicing certificates in the Official Gazette.

It is the same Marva Clarke who has obviously failed to extract contributions of $200 each payable to the Compensation Fund as required by law and, in breach of the law, issued practicing certificates to these delinquent attorneys.

Under this, now former, registrar, files have been lost, expensive equipment unused, scheduling rendered chaotic and part-heard matters left in abeyance for YEARS.

Under this, now former, registrar, there are more actions filed in the court on the basis of constitutional breaches due to delay that in any other common law country at any other time in history.

And she quits, because the reward she expects of her total incompetence and breaching of the constitution is to be appointed to the Bench?

Now, she will doubtless set up shop as a practicing attorney-at-law, or maybe be hired by the Cave Hill Campus to teach her brand of ineptitude to future attorneys. Or maybe she will simply find her professional level in life selling computer games.