Too much money for gov’t lawyers, says Opposition

It cost the Government $364,390 to respond to the application for leave to review the decision of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to discontinue the rape and sexual assault charges brought against Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.{{more}}

Too much money, says the opposition – way too much!

They made their position clear on Thursday, August 28, in parliament during the debate on the supplementary estimates.

While the 2008 supplementary estimates numbers 10-17 brought to the House by Minister of Finance Dr. Ralph Gonsalves totalled around $40 million, it was that $364,390 that caused a stir.

The supplementary estimates seek formal approval to spend money that wasn’t budgeted in the estimates and which has been issued by a Special Warrant by the Minister of Finance for unforeseen circumstances and when Ministries run out of money.

Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace said that he could not see the justification for such legal fees to be paid for a case that he didn’t regard “as in the same league as a number of other cases.”

He argued that because of the nature of the work involved in that case, the five lawyers, including two Queen’s Counsel and a Senior Counsel, didn’t have enough work to do to warrant such a fee.

“The fees do seem to be out of whack…a very high bill indeed,” added Dr Godwin Friday, the Northern Grenadines parliamentary representative.

During his presentation, however, Minister of Housing, Senator Julian Francis, said that DPP Williams has been a constant target of attack by the Opposition.

“I support that if the DPP is under attack that the DPP must get the best representation possible,” Francis said.

Earlier this year, a policewoman accused Dr Gonsalves of raping her at the Prime Minister’s official residence.

She filed private criminal charges of rape and sexual assault against him.

After examining the evidence, DPP Williams decided to take over and discontinue to the cases.

The police officer’s legal team then went on a quest to have his decision reviewed, but at every legal hurdle, the DPP won.

Firstly, Justice Gertel Thom did not grant leave for judicial review, and then the Eastern Caribbean Appeals Court upheld Justice Thom’s decision.

Queen’s Counsel Sir Richard Cheltenham and Parnel Campbell, Senior Counsel Anthony Asthaphan led the DPP’s legal team.