The President of the Bahamas Bar Association Wayne Munroe is wedged in a conflict with attorney Godfrey Proﾴ Pinder, leading to the latter attempting to withdraw his membership from the association.
In a letter addressed to Mr. Munroe, a copy of which has been obtained by the Bahama Journal, Mr. Pinder delivered a scathing review of his colleague, at times even suggesting that his actions contravened legislation that regulates the Bahamas Bar and the legal profession.
In the communication, Mr. Pinder had scorching criticisms about what he perceived as Mr. Munroe ﾓdealing with any member of this honourable profession by means of the Punch publication.ﾒ
ﾓI have worked too long and hard and have come from too far to allow you to drag me down into the mire from which you seem to do your best legal performances and I, therefore, resign as aforesaid and pray that law as we know it, with the help of Almighty, survives,ﾒ the letter said.
Mr. Pinder has been criticized in some circles in recent times for allegedly mismanaging his clientsﾴ accounts, a charge that he vehemently denies. The attorney, who has handled several high profile cases, has accused Mr. Munroe of trying him in the media.
In an unexpected move, Mr. Pinder sent a letter to the Bar Association president, dated August 5, that recorded his withdrawal from the organization and requested the return of all membership fees paid during Mr. Munroeﾴs administration. In fact he has also requested that his membership withdrawal be retroactive.
The Bahama Journal was informed that membership in the Bahamas Bar Association is not mandatory for a practicing attorney.
Mr. Munroe was said to be out of town for the week and therefore unable to respond to this new development. But he has told the Journal in the past of his concerns about certain attorneys who should be reviewed by the lawyersﾴ Disciplinary Tribunal. An Ethics Committee appointed by the Bar Association refers cases to the Tribunal.
In April, Mr. Munroe had said that there were between 15 and 20 cases waiting to be heard before the Tribunal.
ﾓWe have allegations of outright defalcation of funds. The public calls that ﾑtiefing.ﾴ We have serious matters waiting to be heard,ﾒ Mr. Munroe had said at the time.
The infractions that Mr. Pinder had accused his colleague of committing were said to be contrary to the high legal and moral standards to which the profession claims priority.
ﾓTrying a member of said profession in a newspaper of any kind is not only contrary to law and large principles of jurisprudence of every variety, but also to justice,ﾒ Mr. Pinder wrote. ﾓBut trying the said member in a seamy tabloidﾅin the circumstances or at all, tends to bathe the baby in mud so as to clean it.
ﾓThis only makes it more dirty,ﾒ he said.
The attorney reasoned that legal institutions responding to this behaviour in the affirmative take the profession ﾓback to the dark ages and a new low.ﾒ
A copy of the letter was sent to the secretary of the Bahamas Bar Association Carol Lashley, who did not return calls up to press time.
The Bahama Journal
