AG questions budgetary limitations, expresses recruitment frustration
Attorney General (AG) Dawn Smith has expressed disappointment at her office’s inability to attract and retain suitably qualified staff as a result of budgetary limitations, some of which she finds unexplainable.
During a hearing on matters related to governance held before the Commission of Inquiry (COI) on Tuesday, June 22 the AG detailed some frustrations that have impinged on her ability to execute the functions of her office at a higher level.
The AG said when she submits her budgetary requests to the relevant authority, her budget is essentially cut.
However, she offered that there was some level of mitigation in this year’s budget, in that Premier and Minister of Finance Andrew Fahie was accommodating. She said he seemed to understand the necessity of her chambers being able to provide an appropriate level of legal services.
“I still haven’t been able to access the [budget] provisions that have been made, but the provisions were made for me,” she stated.
I can’t afford to work for that, consultants get more!
AG Smith confirmed that there are 23 positions for legal counsel in her office but as things stand now, there are nine unfilled vacancies. This is added to the fact that personnel continue to leave the office.
She intimated that this is largely an issue that is driven by a lack of finances available to her office.
“To a large extent, it (the profession) is money-driven. And because you are not able to entice people, you are not able to attract them, you are not able to keep them, because this is the Virgin Islands. The legal profession is very strong in the Virgin Islands. [There’s] a thriving legal profession so people have options. And it’s disturbing when you can’t even recruit from overseas. Like I said, it’s disappointing,” the Attorney General said.
Irony: Successive gov’ts always happy to pay for legal services
The AG described it as a difficult position to be in but said she was making the remarks with the knowledge that no government of the Virgin Islands has ever shied away from paying for legal services.
“So, it boggles my mind why that money can’t make it into my budget, why the positions for legal counsel in my chambers cannot be remunerated at the rate that we would be happy to pay consultants at; that we as persons who frankly should know what every person paying payroll tax in the Virgin Islands earn, why can’t the government figure out what is the correct level, feasible level – even it’s not as much – to pay counsel. It bothers me greatly and it’s not a new problem,” the AG said.
She expressed that the resources are there and said they just need to be reallocated to address the issues in her department.
Smith further said the factor of better compensation coupled with a better work-life balance and better facilities in the private sector was a key aspect that worsened the difficulty in recruitment.
“That is one key aspect and until I clear that off, I don’t know that I can point to anything else credibly because I know that it is a factor. If somebody says to you – ‘I would really love to work with you but I can’t afford to work for that’ – that’s the answers I get. [In the case of persons leaving, you know it’s not], ‘I don’t like where your office is, I don’t like the people in the office, I don’t want to work hard’. It’s like you’re just not paying enough’,” the AG stated.
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I don’t know Dawn personally, but let me tell you this….I admire this lady and how she conducted herself. Wish more people were like her.
Very well said Ms Smith. Glad you were able to speak truths. They never shy away from paying big money for legal services but will not out that money in the budget. The speaker said to your face that he will seek outside counsel. Your name sake deputy speaker said you should hire local attorneys, yet when it was time to stand with the sheep they all ran away and left the sheep behind. Obviously your chambers mam is not qualified. Millions of dollars go into the health care system, brand new hospital, yet you run to St Thomas to get your babies, you run to St Thomas to do your shopping and yet you want to claim that you are a progressive government worthy to police yourselves. Would you not agree that the COI have removed the bandaid an expose the serious flaws in your system. What the bvi needs is a strong qualified leader.you need a minister of finance who has a finance degree. You are bankrupt of qualified ministers and you believe that you have the cream of the crop. This is not a criticism this is a fact. Please take over asap Britain this is an sos for HELP, save us from yourselves.
She is correct, the starting salary for a Crown Counsel in AG chambers is 42k per year. That is highly unacceptable and a huge deterrent to any legal professional who may be inclined to work for the Government legal services.
And what is it in the private sector?
At least 60 k
in the UK its 29k
The atmosphere in the Chambers is TOXIC. Nothing to do with Dawn. No one will go and work there. Local lawyers? Really? How long do you think they will stay?
What is the cause of the the toxicity in the Chambers?
well paying a big legal bill once every 4yrs is not the same as paying a big salary every month
And all kind of idiots who are Department Heads making over $70-80k per year. If an audit were to be conducted in government departments it will unearth so many unqualified overpaid and nonproductive Heads and Deputy Heads of Departments. Same sh*t when recruiting medical professionals. We get the bottom of the barrel because we offer bottom of the barrel salaries.
Somethings particularly important that are overlook: BV Islanders are self-indoctrinated to believe that attorneys from the USA or the UK are better qualified. (Remember last month Minister Nelville Smith asked for the citizens to retain local lawyers.) Also, no one wants to go to a local office knowing their personal legal issues will be on Tola streets before they leave that office. There is no confidentiality in most of these government offices.
Dawn Smith was the best and smartest witness to date. In great contrast to Willock the Wig.
How much do Patsy Lake and the like get for sitting on the boards of these statutory bodies? The Stipend as they like to call it.