As we mentioned, the initial leaked release from the ADA sparked tension and led the Bar Association to issue its own release. They condemned the ADA's remarks, calling them egregious and an attempt to undermine the constitutional process. The Bar also criticized the ADA for requesting the removal of the Chief Justice as the JLSC chairperson.
Fraser, one of the overlooked Belizean applicants, explained that she is disappointed in the Bar Association because she believes its priority should be the local members of the judiciary.
Sharon Fraser, Member, ADA
"I must say, for someone who has been practicing for as long as I have, I was very disappointed because I would have come back to my country, made sacrifices thinking that there was an association that would fight for me and all the other attorneys in Belize. The truth of the matter is I can't go be a judge in Trinidad, I can't be a judge in Guyana, I can't be a judge in Barbados. The situation is that I decided to come home and give back to the government and people of this country. I didn't run away, I stayed and I did what I needed to have done, and here I am and I'm sitting and saying, 'Okay, these people who are being appointed, what do they have over somebody like myself?' And the truth is the only thing they have is that they're not Belizean. So what does that say?
"Why I'm disappointed about the release from the Bar Association is because they're supposed to be representing me and other attorneys, and that is not how it felt, it felt as if they were representing the status quo. If you look at the laws and you look at what it's saying the association is supposed to be doing, it makes you wonder, it makes me wonder, and I'm sure there are others who are wondering, what is the purpose of them belonging to an association if they are not going to fight for us?"
Courtney Menzies:
"What did you make of the Attorney General, after we saw the document saying yes, these are the two judges that will be appointed, we went to him and he said the process is still ongoing..."
Sharon Fraser, Member, ADA
"He's right. The process is still ongoing because officially it is not a done deal until the Governor General puts her stamp of approval, and so he's right, it's not done, but traditionally once that recommendation comes out, it is a done deal because yes, the Prime Minister has to concur, so he could probably say, 'Given all that has happened, I will not concur,' but people tell me, what is the likelihood of that happening?"
