A-G dismisses concerns about Commission member

Patrick Atkinson, Jamaica’s Attorney General, has brushed aside concerns raised by Desmond Mckenzie, MP for West Kingston, in relation to the appointment of Velma Hylton, QC, as one of  the Commissioners for the West Kingston Enquiry.

Mr. McKenzie has taken issue with certain comments made by Miss Hylton while serving as Counsel for the West Kingston Enquiry in 2002.

However, his claim that she is biased has been dismissed by Mr Atkinson. The Attorney-General, speaking on RJR’s Beyond the Headlines, stressed that Miss Hylton made the comments in relation to the law.

“This is what we do, as lawyers, every day! You go in and you make submissions based on the particular facts before the court, and you address the judge, but it doesn’t mean that you are biased.”

He asserted that Miss Hylton is a competent attorney who is able to handle the rigours of the Commission and reiterated his disagreement with Mr. McKenzie's call for her to be removed as a Commissioner.