Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says while he has not tried to get in touch with Women and Children Minister Rosy Akbar, he did have a “brief conversation with the DPP (Director of Public Prosecution) boss the other day”.

Ms Akbar, while addressing members of the judiciary recently, “reminded” the judiciary of its role in domestic violence cases and that she wished to lobby the audience of judges and magistrates “for stricter measures in every single case of domestic violence and sexual offences because it could save lives”.

Director of Public Prosecution Christopher Pryde in response said it was “inappropriate” for the minister, as a member of the executive branch of Government, to attempt to interfere in the sentencing process which was clearly a judicial function.

The A-G said, “I think a lot of these issues, when it’s what we call a tit for tat, toing and froing, it can get blown out of proportion”.

“I did not hear Minister Akbar say these words, nor have I read everything until DPP has responded to it,” he said.

“But of course, you know, the fact is that the minister is responsible for curbing domestic violence.

“She’s very much concerned about domestic violence, she’s very much concerned about sexual assaults as we all are in the Government.

“Our Prime Minister has obviously made a number of bold statements around that.” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the judiciary had judicial training for a period of time.

“And perhaps the minister was also referring to that about judicial training about sensitisation.

“But being aware and aware of the dynamics at play the power play between the genders, etc.

“So I think a lot of times when you have independent officers in the executive, or an independent officer, sometimes it’s good to just pick up the phone and have a chat, have a talanoa instead of dragging it out in the media.”