Belize’s Attorney General, Magali Marin-Young, Steps Down from Public Service

Belize’s Attorney General, Magali Marin-Young, will demit office tomorrow, returning to her private practice.  Her short stint in the public service was planned from the time she accepted the Prime Minister’s offer to serve.  As she prepares to hand over to her successor, Love News spoke with her on her time in public service.

Magali Marin-Young, Attorney General of Belize: “The learning curve was steep in terms of the public service and how it operated. But it certainly made me appreciate that the Office of the Attorney General is a powerful office. We influence the lawmaking process for Parliament. We also assist ministries in converting policy to legislation. We also, in terms of reforms, we also influence reforms in terms of the judiciary, in terms of the other registries that operate under the ministry and overall reform regarding good governance are all matters that, you know, the Office of the Attorney General has an impact and influence on. So the takeaway is that certainly it is a powerful office but I also want to say that I have nothing but gratitude and appreciation for the public service and the Crowns that work at the Attorney General. You know, in Cabinet, there are only two women but I can tell you that the management team at the AG’s ministry is all women. So yes, we sit around, I sit around a room of all males but when I am at the ministry I sit around with women. It’s women running that ministry from the SolGen right down to the admin team and the heads of unit. So I have a new appreciation and nothing but gratitude. for the public service and the Crowns.”

With Marin-Young’s last day in office being June 30, the handing over and transitional period is underway as her successor, Attorney Anthony Sylvestre prepares to take over.  According to Marin-Young, he doors remain open for a smooth transition, and her confidence in Sylvestre’s capacity as the new Attorney General.

Magali Marin-Young, Attorney General of Belize: “I have been briefing my successor and I have certainly offered to him to be accessible while he’s transitioning in relation to any issues. My successor happens to be my friend and colleague and so I am sure that he will reach out in relation to the programs that are in place right now to continue them. I have every confidence that he will continue all the good initiatives that were commenced under this administration. I’m also confident that he will contribute in the criminal justice area. There is a lot of criminal justice reform which needs to be done, which you know, because there was so much to do my office didn’t get an opportunity to fully tackle that area but my successor brings a wealth of experience in the criminal law background and I believe that he will be impactful in terms of criminal justice reform.”

Magali Marin-Young returns to her private practice next week where she specializes in litigations.