SolGen says outsourcing is expensive but necessary

In our coverage of these various cases, we have noted that several private attorneys have been arguing the Government’s position in court. Earlier this week Solicitor General Tanya Herwanger told us that while those services do not come cheap, her office simply does not have the manpower to handle Belmopan’s legal issues.

Tanya Herwanger, Solicitor General
“We are trying to recruit, believe it or not there is a shortage of lawyers. So it has not been easy to fill the amount of positions that we have. But we are hoping certainly that by August after the court holiday, we would have some new people on board and we would then be able to handle the matters in house, which is where we want to be. But as I said it has not been easy to find people to fill the vacancies and that’s where we’re at.”

Janelle Chanona
“Has it been expensive?”

Tanya Herwanger
“It’s always expensive to get legal advice. It’s at the going market rate I would say.”

Lois Young, Attorney
“Well you’ve got to get paid as a private attorney so it is an additional expensive for the government. I’m not an outrageous charger, biller so … I’m a reasonable biller.”