Government to Meet with Crown Counsels on Friday

On Tuesday, Attorney General Anthony Sylvester reiterated a firm belief that the prosecutors who called in sick at the start of the October session of the High Court were genuinely indisposed.  Their absence from work meant that the Director of Public Prosecutions had to appear before several judges requesting the adjournment of cases that were to be heard earlier this week.  For all intents and purposes, the coincidence of bad health at a critical time in the course of the legal calendar is viewed as a concerted effort to force government to grant their demands.  Earlier today, the opposition issued a release addressing the issue, stating, “denial will not get the crown counsels back to optimal performance and will not fix the challenges being faced in the expensive and complicated change in the court system”.  Following the Wreath Laying Ceremony on Tuesday, AG Sylvestre took a few questions from the media on the contentious matter, informing that an initial meeting had been held with the aggrieved crown counsels.

Reporter

“Sir, you spoke about one meeting, I imagine that was with the crown counsels, but what about a meeting with people in the Ministry of Finance to workout [the issue?

Anthony Sylvestre

Anthony Sylvestre, Attorney General

“That has happened, that has happened.  So obviously, you will appreciate that matters which were raised in the letter would involve the engagement of other stakeholders, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Public Service.  So, immediately after meeting with the crowns the first time, there was a meeting that was convened with Minister Coye, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Minister Henry [Charles] Usher, the Minister of Public Service and the Financial Secretary, and we tried to craft an appropriate way to address the issues.  You will appreciate as some of you may have heard, the President of the Public Service Union has made, has spoken, I was listening and I take note that he had mentioned that issues relating to salary increase should not be addressed in a vacuum and they should be addressed holistically.  So that is something, as well, that the public needs to appreciate.  So whatever discussion that is taking place with these particular crowns is a larger discussion that has to take place.”