State attorneys sickout over $$

A sickout by State attorneys almost brought the courts throughout the country to a standstill yesterday. And the situation may continue today if attorneys and the Government do not reach an agreement overnight.

Most courts in which State attorneys had to appear adjourned matters when the lawyers failed to show yesterday. This included magistrates’ courts, high courts and to some extent the Court of Appeal. The attorneys’ action is aimed at encouraging Government to speed up negotiations for an increased package remuneration. Twice already, within three months, attorneys employed by the State took sickout action over money issues. They were promised on October 14, by then attorney general Glenda Morean, that within three weeks their request for more money would be dealt with.  That, however, did not happen.

The Association of Legal Officers (ALO), which represents the attorneys, met recently with new AG John Jeremie. A spokesperson for the ALO said that Jeremie indicated to them that their proposal was sent to Cabinet and passed on to its finance sub-committee. ALO was also informed that Minister for Public Administration Dr Lenny Saith had forwarded its proposals to the Chief Personnel Office (CPO). But when ALO checked with the CPO it was informed that the matter had not reached her as yet.

ALO said that their plight for a better pay packet goes back before the year 2000. Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, who was attorney general at that time, sympathised with their cause and had ushered their proposals to Cabinet. Government then proposed an inducement allowance to keep the attorneys while their request for an increase enumeration was looked at. The inducement at the lowest was $500 and about $2000 at the highest. This ALO is saying, is not good enough in the interim and the inducement at the lowest should be increased to $5000. ALO noted that many State attorneys left between 2001 to 2003 because of the poor pay situation. In the Solicitor General’s Department, ten have left; in the Chief State Solicitor’s Department 13 left; in the  DPP’s Department, 14; the Chief Parliamentary Council Department has lost four and the Reform Commission, two.

Apart from representing their clients in court, State attorneys are responsible for handling Government contracts, bond issues, conveyancing, administration of estates and other legal work. Not only are State attorneys affected by a poor pay packet but are also short-staffed, and in most cases, junior officers have to do the work of senior attorneys. Chief Justice Sat Sharma, in his opening address of the 2002/2003 law term,  linked the situation of the State attorneys as having to play cricket on Lord’s with coconut bats.