No Advance Either, Despite Trying COVID Times

Audrey Matura

COVID-19 has put a severe financial strain on families, and according to Matura, a suggestion was initially made for the Choco and Mendez families to receive an advance until they were able to sort through the legal maze ahead of them since neither of the deceased airmen left behind a will.  She says that the notion was quashed when the C.E.O. in the Ministry of National Security was vetoed by the minister himself, who also happens to be Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte.

Audrey Matura, Attorney-at-Law

“I had even suggested at that same meeting that my clients be given an advance because the truth is these men are the breadwinners of most of the home, at least two of them that I represent, they are the main breadwinners and it means that the people are going through a hardship.  But the government said no.  Well the [attorney general] specifically said no, let them bring their letters of administration.  That’s when I brought to his attention that the court is not facilitating those right now, sadly. I think they are playing semantics, the attorney general is an attorney [and] he knows that you can, the intended administrator of an estate can deal with the money, can get an advance.  If that person does not do what should be done under the estate, that person could be taken to court and be dealt with.  Once the government does its part and give the people their money or the intended administrator the money that’s not their problem anymore, it’s the problem of the administrator to administer it properly.  I don’t know why, knowing that he’s very reluctant or absolutely reluctant to give the advance.  At the time when I made the request, the C.E.O. had said yes, but of course the minister vetoed him.  To me it is clear-cut, in the sense that in the case of both Mrs. Choco and Mrs. Mendez they were married.  The law, the administration of estate act states that one-third goes to the wife and two-thirds to the children.  In the case of one of them, they had no children, so half will go to the wife and half will go to the parents if you have surviving parents.  The law is clear.”