Government has confirmed the salaries for legal advisors to Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams as being between ,000 and ,000.
In a press statement to the media on Thursday from the AG’s office, it said that a mere monthly stipend of G$20,000 is given to the chairperson and G$15,000 for each member.
Attorney General Basil Williams
According to the statement, these legal professionals who have been selected to assist the AG are appointed as members of the Ministerial Council of Legal Advisors and not staff appointees at the Ministry of Legal Affairs.
Earlier on Thursday, Minister of State Joseph Harmon told media operatives at a post-Cabinet press briefing that the salaries for these advisers were minimal.
He said, “We have talent that is available in the country and when you have talent like that, there are people who have actually been in the system who served as Judges, some as Court of Appeal Judges and so on, and who have actually given their consent to act in that capacity. I think it is something that any Government will take and hold with both hands.”
Harmon also noted that the legal advisers volunteered their services.
Earlier this month, Harmon had announced the establishment of a Ministerial Council of Legal Advisors to the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister.
He said the functions of the Council would include providing legal analysis and advice on the development of the local justice sector, Government’s legislative agenda and litigation matters; providing input into legal policy design and engaging stakeholders with interest in the justice sector where appropriate.
The Council is being assisted in the execution of its mandate by support staff from the Legal Affairs Ministry. The members of the Council of Legal Advisors are former Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Judge, Justice Duke Pollard; former High Court Judge, Justice James Patterson; former Appeal Court Judge, Justice Claudette Singh; Professor Harold Lutchman; and Professor Harold James.
Former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall has often criticised Williams’ performance in handling several legal matters.
