Two weeks ago we told you about the report that 6 new Magistrates had been hired and that they are all foreign.
Well, tonight the Association of Dense Attorneys is sounding the alarm about it. A release issued this evening says, quote, "It is confirmed that six foreigners are being brought into our country to serve as magistrates. This brings a total 10 foreign magistrates leaving only 4 Belizeans serving our people.
Two Belizeans, including a Belizean Chief Magistrate fully qualified with many years of experience recently applied for two vacant posts of Judges. They were both rejected.
Of the 11 Judges in the Senior Courts only one is a Belizean.
There are over one hundred Belizean lawyers, there are over a dozen retired magistrates and Chief Magistrates. There are over two dozen lawyers, working in various government departments and agencies. NONE have been approached to offer their services even for a limited period.
This unprecedented foreignization of the nation's judiciary in the High Court and Magistracy is an affront to our sense of nationalism, and national dignity and poses a threat to our democracy and justice system."
And from there, the release ends on an ominous, if slightly dramatic note:
"We sound this warning The situation is alarming.