ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — Prime Minister Gaston Browne has pushed back against Caribbean judicial leaders who condemned his comments in which he threatened to deport a judge, insisting that he was giving a “last resort warning” and that judicial decisions are not beyond public criticism.

The Caribbean Heads of Judiciary, in a strongly worded joint statement on Wednesday, said Browne’s remarks about the unnamed judge were, “a threat to the very independence of the judiciary” and warned that they could erode the separation of powers and undermine public confidence in the administration of justice.

Browne, responding on Thursday, rejected that characterisation and said he was not seeking to interfere with the constitutional independence or security of any judge.