Attorney General Defends Hiring Private Law Firm for Redistricting Case

The recent redistricting case has drawn criticism from the public over whether taxpayer dollars are being wasted by the Attorney General’s Ministry. The AG’s Ministry contracted the law firm of Courtenay Coye LLP to handle Enriquez’s challenge of the elections. The move sparked concerns about the capabilities of the AG’s Office to handle high-profile cases and the use of taxpayers’ dollars for legal representation. Today, Attorney General Anthony Sylvester addressed these concerns, saying that his ministry has capable attorneys, but that this matter needed a level of experience that made it necessary to outsource.

Anthony Sylvestre, Attorney General of Belize: “It’s a valid concern, a valid observation. So as you may be aware so the Attorney General’s ministry is charged with defending all matters. And we have a cadre of excellent, brilliant, Crown Counsel but as occurs with this matter, you’re faced with a very urgent matter, a matter which requires an attorney with certain special skill and expertise. And Regrettably, unfortunately, that’s the nature of the matter. And so we have to engage such attorneys. But certainly, I readily concede that is a valid concern. But as I indicated, it is something in the normal course of things that government has to do.”

While Courtenay took the lead, Senior Counsel Godfrey Smith also appeared in court today to represent the AG’s Ministry.