Today was the official opening of the High Court - and the courthouse should have been busy with crown counsels and defence lawyers shuttling across courtrooms. But there was a pronounced hiccup when the crown counsels staged a sick out - one that came as suddenly as a lightning strike with a message sent as loud and clear as a thunderclap.
As many as 5 prosecutors called in sick to the DPP's office including - we are told - the one in Belmopan. That left the DPP Cheryl Lynn Vidal to have to be the one shuttling across those courtrooms. She appeared before at least two judges requesting adjournments until the crowns can return. When will they return from their spontaneous sick leave? Right now, it's anyone's guess - since the prosecutors have specific gripes with government.
They staged the sickout after government reportedly rejected a request for either a security detail or a security allowance due to the increasing risks and escalating threats to their safety by brazen criminals. A report posted in the Guardian says, quote, "witnesses were being threatened inside the DPP's Office even in-front of prosecutors; and those threats even materialized with the disappearance and murder of Crown witness Iran "Basco" Jones who had testified against Eric Miranda and Jeffery Contreras charged for the murder of Sean Menzies. In addition, even prosecutors had been threatened." End quote.
The Crowns are also upset because government hired 3 foreign junior legal assistants - less qualified than the prosecutors - but who will receive higher salaries than them. The DPP - who had a busy day in court - declined comment.
We asked the president of the bar Andrew Marshalleck for a comment, and he said, quote, "It is counter productive to express the complaint of low salaries by reference to the pay for judicial assistants….The Public Prosecutions Office is not a part of the judiciary. They are comparing apples with oranges. New posts have been created in the judiciary at various levels at appropriate salary scales.The Bar….supports the salary scales being implemented for judicial officers. The Commission has also supported adjustment to the pay scales of other legal officers such as Crown Counsel....The salaries are low and all must be adjusted upward. But all cannot be adjusted at the same time. Somebody must go first and others second…..Striking does not help. It shows willingness to put own needs over public service." End quote.
