SOURCE- DAILY OBSERVER- The former executive secretary of the Board of Education (BoE) said that she was not optimistic about the outcome of her case after the judge gave a 24-hour timeframe by which to give her decision.
D Gisele Isaac has described the High Court’s dismissal of her case as “dismissive and flippant”, especially after such a long legal battle.
Isaac said that the case, which had been delayed by about an hour on Monday (October 14), seemed to have upset the judge and that set the tone of the hearing going forward.
Following a 10-year legal battle against the Attorney General and former Education Minister Michael Browne, Justice Jan Drysdale dismissed Isaac’s case for lack of evidence in trying to link the government to controversial statements made by James ‘Tanny’ Rose, now deceased.
The case was thrown out after a brief 15-minute hearing at the High Court on Tuesday.
The lawsuit stemmed from events dating back to 2014 when Isaac was suspended from her position for allegedly disobeying Browne’s directives.
“I personally felt dismissed. I sat there and I thought 10 years of my life in which I have lived under a cloud brought about by malice, and in 15 minutes as you said to me, the court said ‘so what,’ that’s how I felt yesterday (Tuesday).
“The matter began about an hour late because the two attorneys were involved in other matters and the judge made it very clear that she was upset at the delay, and I felt that the judge’s upset permeated the entire hearing. And so when she said I’ll have a decision tomorrow morning at 9 (am), I think all of us were taken aback because clearly at that point, she seemed to have made up her mind and so I was not optimistic, I was not happy with how the hearing had gone, but I said okay let me exercise a little faith here in the justice system; but then, as you said, my life for the last 10 years was simply dismissed like that so flippantly,” Isaac said.
A report about Isaac’s conduct was later publicized by Rose on ZDK Radio, leading to what Isaac claimed was significant reputational damage.
Isaac said that the report was read even before she had been dismissed from the BoE, and she is of the opinion that she is entitled to natural justice, a declaration which she had sought the court’s judgment, but with which the court disagreed. The judge ruled that Isaac had already been dismissed weeks before the broadcast and was therefore not entitled to natural justice.
She said that it is decisions like these why many people across Antigua and Barbuda do not have faith in the justice system, and do not want to have the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as the country’s final appellate court.
“…So it was personal, it was always personal, and the leaking of that report or the outright giving of the report to ‘Tanny’ Rose was intentional and meant to hurt me, because it hurt me. When people who don’t know me, never see me, never walk for confirmation with me, could get up and call me all manner of names that I’m not going to repeat here, and say things about me in the public domain, on Facebook which is international…you are going to tell me it’s not intentional?” Isaac queried.
Justice Drysdale ruled that Isaac’s lawyer, Justin Simon KC, failed to prove that the government was responsible for leaking the report to Rose.
While the former BoE executive secretary expressed a desire to move on with her life, she admitted that the ordeal has left her disillusioned.
“I personally would like to get on with my life; I would really like to get on with my life. There are things I’m going to have to discuss of course with my lawyer, but having given 10 years of my life to this matter, and as I said, having my life flippantly dismissed in 50 minutes, I have to seriously consider whether I want to walk this road again,” Isaac said.
She continued, “I don’t think I have the time, literally have the time at my age to go through another 10 years waiting for justice.”
The Attorney General’s lawyer, Dr David Dorsett, welcomed the decision, noting that there was no credible link between the government and the broadcast.
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and how do the people of the MASS EXODUS RESIGNATIONS feel? They label the UPP culture as TOXIC. Many had to run to preserve their mental health and families.
#CHAOS-DEMON
That’s how the folks who you speak down to feel – dismissed. One morning, while Daren Matthew-Ward was still at Observer, I heard you talk down to him as if he was a little boy. You lucky Daren didn’t tell you to hush you RH.
Take a dose ah you own damned medicine!
what about Richard Lewis and his wife? How you think he feel as a man that his own party don’t want him or his wife because she is a “yardie”? You think that’s nice? Miss Gizelle you seem to be good at “playing victim”. what did Mrs. Richard Lewis do to you?
“Justice Drysdale ruled that Isaac’s lawyer, Justin Simon KC, failed to prove that the government was responsible for leaking the report to Rose.”
This man has the worst record as a KC in the western hemisphere!!!!
He is the same LOSER LAWYER that flew allll the wayyyyyy to the Privy Council to listen to a white-wigged lawyer basically tell him that he in the wrong profession! His law school should consider revoking his law degree. Barbuda Council wasted time and MONEY with him and that infamous case!
@ When will Pringle… Trevor the day prior to the judgment on the disturber said he was eagerly awaiting the outcome of the case since the judge said the issue was critical to the people of Barbuda. The rest as they say is history. Another failed experiment with Justin!!!!
“The JCPC said the Board has given, the claimants have NO REALISTIC PROSPECT of succeeding in their claim under section 9(1) of the Constitution so that the Court of Appeal was correct to strike out that claim. The Board will therefore humbly advise Her Majesty that the appeal should be dismissed.”
With his strong DOMINICAN accent, he is demanding “Loyalty Tests” for Shoogy, Serpent and Richard. (guess Richard Lewis should a married a Dominican instead)
https://antiguanewsroom.com/justin-simon-says-upp-representatives-facing-allegations-of-disloyalty-must-be-investigated-and-removed/
Wasn’t this in the news before? Why is it making its rounds again?
You had your day in court. Last time I checked you were not a lawyer. If you don’t like the outcome, blame your lawyer for not doing his work properly.
If you are still upset after wanting to move on with your life, then take it to the Privy Council.
Well mouth open and tory jump out!!!! What’s this now?
Giselle please shut up and go dismiss yourself as Chair of the UPP. You would be surprise of the fortunes of the UPP with your backside gone.
You can talk from now until Chaku Waku false teeth glue back. Gisele already say she “NOT STEPPING DOWN” so tek dat in ya nehnen as the vicious RAG-TAG clown would say
https://antiguanewsroom.com/d-gisele-isaac-we-are-not-stepping-down/
wow! She is capable of “FEELING”???? So she actually has a “HEART”??? guess all the öpinions” people have about her are wrong then. Thehaterz just trying to demonize this Strong Black Woman who refuse to let weak men walk over her!
Ride on dame, ride on…..
As you know your Most Honourable Ms D Gisele Isaacs, Antigua on the whole is a misogynistic place, and cannot handle strong minded and strong willed women.
I haven’t read any of the comments as yet, but I can well imagine the vitriol and downright nasty comments.
My partner is more intelligent than myself, and when she’s dealing with men in our business, they don’t want to listen or take instructions from her.
These men always look towards me to take over from her.
I TELL THEM SHE’S IN CHARGE – THEY HATE IT!
GOOD!!!
I’m lucky that working abroad, as well as at home, has taught me that ONE well Antiguan educated woman is better than TEN dunce Antiguan men.
That’s why so many women prefer to live alone.
IGNORE THE MALE NOISES MS ISAACS …
… I’m so glad I’m associated with a STRONG Barbudan (third generation) woman 👩🏽, she doesn’t suffer fools gladly.
Why you all think Giselle Isaac is so strong. She cannot deal with strong men either and worse strong women like Cleon Athill and Joanne Massiah.
Enough about your case, Giselle. For two weeks now that is all we are hearing.
Your party has loads of problems but everything is about you. You’re just groaning and griping and bitching and whining, while your part is dying for some leadership.
Stop being so selfish and for once think about poor old UPP if you’re not moving aside. Otherwise, me say move your RH and get out the way.
Her party cannot be “dying for some leadership” when a CONVENTION was just held recently where DULY ELECTED Leadership was VOTED FOR!
Somebody lying somewhere and it ain’t the good Dame and aspiring Governor General 😉
I SEE SHE DID NOT LIKE THE TASTE OF HER OWN MEDICINE.YOU ALL LIKE TO DISH IT OUT AND CANNOT TAKE IT. WHEN IT IS ON YOUR PLATE.WHO FEELS IT,KNOWS IT.HOPEFULLY,GOING FORWARD YOU WOULD APPROACH OTHERS THROUGH DIFFERENT LENSES.
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