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(L-R): Supreme Court Justice Margaret Ramsey Hale, Justice Paul Harrison, and Acting Governor and CEO Patrick Boyle

Justice Paul Harrison of Jamaica was sworn in by Acting Governor Patrick Boyle on Tuesday, having been appointed on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission to be a judge of the Supreme Court of Turks and Caicos Islands for the period beginning 10 July 2012 and ending 30 June 2014.

Harrison has been assigned by the chief justice to deal with criminal trials arising out of the 2008/9 Commission of Inquiry into allegations of widespread government corruption, currently scheduled for a plea and directions hearing on Wednesday.

Almost three years since the Inquiry’s final report was issued, 12 individuals, including former government ministers, local politicians, attorneys and developers are currently before the court on a variety of charges involving fraud, money laundering and bribery.

It has been estimated that as many as 50 more people may be drawn into the net. The central figure of the inquiry, former premier Michael Misick, has fled the islands in an attempt to avoid an Interpol “Red Notice” issued for his arrest.

Harrison was formerly president of the Jamaican Court of Appeal from 2005 to 2007 and a judge of appeal from 1997 to 2005.

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