Invoice Controversy Clouds Senator Dennison’s Role

Tonight, Senator Glenfield Dennison is facing serious scrutiny and his job as a Crown Counsel could be on the line. The issue centers around an invoice for one hundred and eighty-three thousand dollars that Dennison reportedly submitted for legal services connected to the Belize Communication Workers for Justice and their dispute with BTL. Here’s where the problem arises. Under Belize’s Judicial and Legal Services Regulations, Crown Counsels are not allowed to do private legal work. The rules clearly state that a judicial and legal officer must not engage in any private legal business. They are also prohibited from putting themselves in situations where there could be a conflict of interest, or from accepting payment related to their duties. Dennison has been publicly associated as a legal advisor for the Belize Communication Workers for Justice. While he is also a union senator, and that advisory role may have been viewed as part of his representation, the reported submission of a hefty legal invoice changes the picture. The regulations say that if a judicial or legal officer breaks these conduct rules, they can face disciplinary action. The power to discipline lies with the Judicial and Legal Services Commission and senior officials such as the Attorney General, Solicitor General or Head of Department can recommend that action be taken. So, Did Dennison’s reported invoice amount to private legal practice, which Crown Counsels are barred from? If a complaint is made and the Commission finds that the rules were breached, Dennison could face penalties that range from a warning to more serious consequences affecting his job position.

 

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