Former Solicitor General Elson Kaseke...as of June first he moved on from the government service and into private practice. And perhaps it was right that he should have because the Integrity Commission ruled that Kaseke violated the code of conduct for public officials when he participated in the private registry. On May 11th, the Attorney General Francis Fonseca announced his departure, resolutely.
Hon. Francis Fonseca, Attorney General
[May 11th, 2006] "His contract came to an end earlier this month and Mr. Kaseke's contract will not be renewed. That is the end of that matter...we felt it was an opportunity for us to have a new beginning."
Well...not quote the end of that matter, it seems a government snared in so many legal tangles always has to have a rough and ready legal bulldog to pursue their litigation. 7NEWS has obtained a document called a retainer agreement which shows that government is still paying Kaseke $200,000 over the next two years as a legal consultant.
The "retainer agreement" as it is called, is dated May fifth and signed by Attorney General Fonseca, 6 days before Fonseca said it was "the end" with Kaseke. It's a short agreement, only 6 clauses but what it lacks in length in make up for in cash. Clause one states that the government "agrees...to retain the services of (Kaseke) for two years, starting June 2006 - at an annual salary of $100,000 paid monthly." We note that that salary is greater than even the minister's.
But for all that money, Kaseke is only retained; the contract notes that, "he (has) the right during the consultancy period to engage in private legal work." He is retained to work on 11 matters, 7 of them having to do with suspect government privatization deals which went sour, including four cases involving Jeffrey Prosser's ICC, one involving the failed airport privatization to Newco and the other involving Print Belize Limited.
But even with $200,000 in guaranteed salaries, if he takes up any other case for government, - outside of the stated 11, Kaseke can charge his regular consultancy fee and government is contractually committed to pay him within 10 working days. And more than just rich in cash, the contract is also sweetened by the commitment that if Kaseke has to travel abroad for the government, he will be flown business or first class.
Attorney General Francis Fonseca could not be reached for comment.
