OVER $27 MILLION USED THUS FAR TO COMPENSATE ATTORNEYS FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2007/08

Since the start of the financial year, the Legal Aid Council has made payments to Attorneys for work done totalling $27,121,500.00.

The payments were made as set out here within :

April

May 30, 2007 $6,026,000.00

June 4, 2007 $ 205,000.00 (Re-sentencing)

June 12, 2007 $3,649,000.00

July

August 3, 2007 $4,805,000.00

September 2007 $3,727,000.00

October

November 13, 2007 $2,726,000.00

December 11 & 21, 2007 $5,983,500.00

Total $27,121,500.00

The Executive Director of the Legal Aid Council, Mr. Glen Cruickshank, Q.C., while acknowledging that the rate of payments is not as it ought to be, stressed that both he and the Board of the Legal Aid Council, are committed to meeting its financial obligations. Mr. Cruickshank said that he was well aware that lawyers work best when they are paid, and as such we are endeavouring to keep payments current. He added that the over $27 Million that has been paid so far for this financial year, was distributed among those Attorneys who serve the Legal Aid system, both in the Corporate area, as well as rural Jamaica.

Mr. Cruickshank asserted that presently, there are over 300 Attorneys-at-Law on the Council’s Panel of Attorneys. These Attorneys became a part of the formal Legal Aid Scheme through a written application to the Council, expressing their willingness to do legal aid work. Each applicant/Attorney indicates his/her preference to provide this service in a particular geographical area, and at a Court or Police Station in the parish where the applicant practices.