Judge in case brought by Wayne Cameron against police commissioner steps away

High Court Judge Natalie Hart Hines has recused herself from the lawsuit filed by Senior Superintendent of Police Wayne Cameron challenging a directive by Commissioner of Police Dr Kevin Blake that the position of chairman of the Police Officers’ Association (POA) be vacated.

Cameron is the chairman of the POA, which represents police officers from the rank of inspectors to deputy commissioner.

Hart Hines made the decision in the Supreme Court on Wednesday following an application by King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie, one of the attorneys representing Blake.

The reason for the application was not disclosed during the hearing, which was not open to the public.

Arising from the judge’s decision to recuse, the inter partes hearing in the case and Cameron’s application for leave to seek judicial review of Blake's decision to remove him as chairman of the POA have been pushed back to October 29.

An interim injunction, previously granted by Hart Hines, which blocks the commissioner from removing Cameron as POA chairman, remains in effect.

In a public statement on September 8, the police communication arm said Blake had directed that the chair of the POA be vacated.

The statement said, too, that the current holder of the office would no longer be granted audience with the Police High Command and would not be permitted to represent the police force outside of official duties.

Cameron claimed, in an affidavit filed in court in support of his lawsuit, that the directives by the police commissioner came after he filed a grievance report with the Office of the Services Commission in January this year containing several allegations of harassment and victimisation.

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