Attorney General Responds to Criticism on Chief Magistrate Succession

Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser is set to retire very shortly. News Five has confirmed reports that a Sri Lankan national has been selected to succeed Fraser as Chief Magistrate. This decision has come with a lot of scrutiny. President of the Public Service Union, Dean Flowers is on record saying that the magistracy in Belize has qualified persons that could fill the role. He referred to the decision as unfair. Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser is also on record criticizing the decision. She referred to it as unfortunate, adding that she has been grooming Senior Magistrate Aretha Ford to succeed her when she demits office. In light of all the criticism being heaped upon the Government of Belize, we reached out to the Magali Marin-Young, the Attorney General, for comments on the matter. Here is what she told us.

Magali Marin-Young

Magali Marin-Young, Attorney General

“I can only assume that your query emanates from some comments that the honorable Chief Magistrate has been making publicly. I wish to disabuse the public of any notion that there was any unfairness or discrimination in the selection process. I find it extremely distributing that a senior judicial officer would be making these comments publicly, knowing that there is a constitutional process for the appointment of persons as Magistrate and the selection of Chief Magistrate. The process is completely independent of that of the Prime Minister, completely independent of that of the Executive. The appointment is made by what is called Judicial and Legal Services Commission which is chaired by the honorable Chief Justice and it has members including the President of the Bar Association of Belize, the Chairperson of the Public Service Commission and the Office of the Solicitor General. The post for Chief Magistrate was duly advertised locally, regionally and throughout the Common-Wealth. Five persons applied, one from Belize, one form Jamaica, one from Barbados and one Sri Lanka. All five persons got an opportunity to be fully interviewed by the commission and there is a curriculum, their CV was duly scrutinized by the Commission. At the end of the day that Commission decided that the Sri Lankan candidate interviewed best and brought what was required to the table for position of Chief Magistrate. The position of Chie Magistrate is not like that of the monarchy where the Chief Magistrate selects her successor. It is not based on that at all. There is a process. The commission selects somebody who can take on the leadership of the magistracy. All of us know that that court needs significant improvement. Based on the needs of that court as assessed by that Commission is what informed this selection process.”