More Money Needed for Judiciary to Function Optimally

Michael Peyrefitte

Every year at the ceremonial opening of the Supreme Court, the judiciary has always criticized the lack of resources set aside to carry out its functions.  The perennial complaint is not without merit, as monies are allotted each fiscal year to other areas of government.  According to Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte, despite repeated requests, government has to prioritize where it will expend from the public purse year on year.

Michael Peyrefitte, Attorney General

“Since I’ve been the attorney general, every year we have submitted to the Ministry of Finance the maximum that we need, everything that we need from the judiciary, and not just the judiciary but from the AG’s ministry on a whole, for Vital Stats, Companies [Registry], BELIPO and the general running of the ministry.  We have always requested all that we need.  In fairness to the Ministry of Finance, so does every other ministry and while no aspect of any ministry is unimportant, priorities have to be set and we understand totally the feeling by judges that, for example, more should be allocated and everything, but we have to consider all aspects of the government.  Several people want more pay, the crowns want more pay, other public servants want more pay, doctors want more pay.  So we have to consider all of that before we make a decision concerning the budget.  Does the judiciary deserve more resources allocated to it?  Absolutely, it surely does, however, you know, we’re not flushed with cash, so to speak.  So we don’t have unlimited resources for limited wants, we have unlimited wants for limited resources and we have to prioritize.  So not every department, not every ministry will get everything that they want but we try to do our best to ensure that the most important things are dealt with at the very least.”