Marriage, birth and death certificates and even business licences signed by Acting Registrar General Shane Miller could be void – causing legal chaos.
Two Bahamian lawyers yesterday raised the concern that Wednesday’s decision by Supreme Court Justice Hugh Small to deny the government’s application for a stay of the ruling that Registrar General Elizabeth Thompson was unfairly terminated could have serious implications for the validity of documents that were signed since Mr. Miller was appointed to the post on January 12, 2005.
Milton Davis, counsel for Ms. Thompson, said that the fact that Mr. Miller continues to sign important documents, although his client has officially been reinstated, could “potentially have very serious consequences”.
Lawyer Paul Moss has criticised the situation calling it a “fiasco”. He said the circumstances were most untenable.
“This {The Office of the Registrar General} is arguably one of the most important institutions as it relates to financial services, and we are toying with it by allowing two persons to serve in a capacity where the law only allows for one”.
The Bahamas Bar Association last week also announced that it is seeking to prepare a declaration that will prevent Mr. Miller from signing any licences or documents to incorporate businesses pending the outcome of government’s appeal in the case.
Bar Association president Wayne Munroe said that if it is determined that the documents signed by the acting registrar are void it would be “disastrous” for a small country like the Bahamas.
Source: The Tribune
