Belizean Lawyers Say High Court Bench Process Favors Foreigners

As questions grow over recent High Court appointments, some in Belize’s legal community say the problem is not a shortage of talent, but a lack of trust in the process. Attorney Richard “Dickie” Bradley says many Belizean lawyers no longer bother applying because they believe the posts will go to foreign candidates. Former Chief Magistrate Sharon Fraser says Belize has capable attorneys and its bench should better reflect the people it serves. They argue that while CSME allows CARICOM nationals to work in Belize, it should fill real gaps, not overlook qualified Belizeans.

 

Richard “Dickie” Bradley, President, Association of Defense Attorneys

“For some time among ourselves as lawyers, when we would say, ‘You see the vacancy?’ ‘Yes.’ ‘I expect you fu apply.’ ‘Waste of time,  they will pick a foreigner.’ That’s the stock response to us. We are going to be humiliated and asked all kind of things, and we will not even be considered. That is what has been happening. That is the reality. Listen, there are judges right now sitting in the court who were not even magistrates where they came from or anywhere. They were never a magistrate. Worse, they were never a judge. We don’t got nobody. We could do that.”

 

Sharon Fraser, Attorney

“Your bench is supposed to be reflective of the people who it serves. Is the bench reflective of the people who it’s serving in Belize right now? People, ask yourself that question. Is it reflecting us? And I’m not trying to discriminate. I’m not trying to… Yes, we have CSME, but the bottom line is that even if you look at that, it tells you about protecting your own, your industry, your country before you’re able to letting others.”

 

Reporter

“So is this simply a negative effect of being a part of CSME that you as attorneys are being impacted?

 

Sharon Fraser

“No. Nothing to do with that. No. It has nothing to do with that because CSME give you an opportunity, yes, to go within the Caribbean But of course, that is to fill vacancies and areas in which there are shortage. We are not short of judges. We are not short of attorneys here, competent attorneys. We all went to the same law school, you know. I want to remind the public, we all went to the same law school.”

 

Of the thirteen Justices of Belize High Court, Antoinette Moore is the only one with Belizean roots. She is leaving the bench at the beginning of August. 

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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