Lawyers offended by PM’s defense of hiring ex-wife
Many issues were raised by the Prime Minister at his press conference on Wednesday, including the admission that things will get worst in the next fiscal year. That was bad news but another issue that stuck out like a sore thumb, was his unapologetic defense of his ex- wife, Lois Young, as the government’s lawyer of choice. The reaction has been swift and furious from quite a number of lawyers from both sides of the political divide who find it is irresponsible for the PM to declare that almost “every lawyer is in the pocket of Lord Ashcroft” when the fact is that only a handful of known lawyers work for the Ashcroft-associated companies. The PM’s comment, they say, effectively dismisses a raft of able senior counsel known to support his own government. One lawyer tells News Five that it is equally dismissive of recently recruited Solicitor General Oscar Ramjeet who was praised by the Attorney General Wilfred Elrington for his skills and abilities at the opening of the Supreme Court just last month. Incidentally, Ramjeet was present at the P.M.’s conference. Another lawyer points out that for a government sworn to uphold transparency and accountability, justifying the number of cases that go to Lois Young because she was instrumental in attacking the last government, sounds like classical political patronage. We’ll leave you to decide whether the PM has come loose from his manifesto moorings or whether it’s just business as usual.
Ican’t understand why the Prime Minister is defending his Ex-Wife.Wouldn’t that be a conflict of interest?
Only in Belize!
That is surely conflict of interest. I would never be able to hire my husband, and not raise a red flag. That is corruption at its best. They are no different than the previouse goverment. They use to point fingers but now they should look in the mirror. I guess it is okay when they are doing it. Nothing changes in Belize. I have always supported the UDP, I expected better than that from them. But I guess that is the way politics is, promises are made, until they get in and then it’s all the same. Break the promises with no one to answere to.
The PM’s decision about this fiscal year is awkward when only last year when he went in office accepted that our economy was good now he drastically changes and then defends his ex wife of being loyal didnt he left her. Why?
NEPOTISM!!! No other way, his daughter, his son. Please, the hypocrisy when just a few years ago he attacked the PUP for the that and cronyism.
Only in Belize!!!
It is my opinion that politicians should not have family members working for them or that they should appoint or recommend a family member for a particular position. I understand if Mr. Barrow feels that his ex-wife is the correct person for the job, but it is totally absurd to say that every other politician is in the pocket of Mr. Ashcroft. We know that their are dirty lawyers but I am sure their are other lawyers, not related to Mr. Barrow who can perform just as capably as his ex. This trend of hiring or appointing family members has been occuring in Belizean politics for as long as I can remember. This type of special interest is what causes our government to lose money during the privatization of former government holdings. How many times we have heard that the brother of this politician or the cousin of another politician has won the bid in the privatization of a particular government department. Look at the Belize City mayor who has paid quite a bit of money to her family run business to collect trash in the city. These types of blatant family hook-ups demonstrates how corrupt our government system is. Neither party can claim that this type of special interest has not occurred during their administration. Belize needs a change and I do not mean from one party to the the next. It needs a complete overhaul with people who actually care about the country and not their own pockets.
what i hate about belize is that when political party is in the other bashes it for all the wrongs they do to the people – when they get in – they turn around and do the same damn thing – belize really need to wake up – move away from the narrow mindedness and give other people a chance.
That’s the Royal Family of Belize!!!! What an insult to the professional, educated and tax paying people of Belize. That’s the reason why UDP can only get ONE term in power!!
The PM will surely defend his ex wife for he may not continue with her in her personal life nut have common interests. Both know how to fill their pockets and so they both get a god share. I am tired of every day news and Belizeans we just sit there and accept everything. We should move thios government soon if not they will reach the limit just as the PUP did. Belizean should show them that we are the ones who put them up there and we can move them anytime too. It is our money they are using and mishandling. Why will there be a deficit when we have good extra money coming in from BNE? 48% . Wake up Belize. Let’s do something. How will Dean Barrow put his wife or Ex wife to defend him when he corrupts the county? He will surely win…..an independent lawyer should do that.