Raising the bar, Attorney General seeks common ground

Wilfred Elrington

There is another issue that Minister Elrington discussed today. And though he’s just back in the country and says he hasn’t been briefed on the Bar’s response to the proposed amendment to the Legal Profession Act, Minister Elrington insists that he is at all times prepared to dialogue. Four recommendations were brought out at the Bar Association meeting on Monday night. One is that the Bar would be responding formally to the draft proposals. Two is that the Bar would seek a legal opinion on whether or not compulsory membership in the Association is unconstitutional. Three is that the Bar would propose a committee to examine the Legal Profession Act in its entirety. And four that the Bar would engage the government in addressing some of the genuine concerns that were raised in terms of the future activities of the Association. While the AG has not received the response in writing, today he seemed amenable in seeking common ground with the Association. 

Wilfred Elrington, Attorney-General

“Actually, I am always in favor of dialogue and discussion. I think they can always enhance thoughts and ideas so I will not be violently opposed to any such suggest. I have not received any; certainly prepared to look at them. And as I say, I believe in dialogue and discussion s if I think that what they are coming up with is going to be enhanced by dialogue and discussion, I am sure I’d be prepared to look at it favourably.”

According to Courtenay, the Bar Association has written to the Solicitor-General asking for two weeks in which their recommendations can be carried out. While they have not received an official response, every indication today was that Elrington is inclined to relax his hard line just a bit.