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Over $8M paid out by Gov’t for services from private law firms

- Central Government hired private law firms & individuals to the tune of $6,286,920.86 & Statutory Bodies paid out another $2,580,733.26 for private legal services
It has been reported that finding a lawyer or law firm to take on the Government of the Virgin Islands in the court of law is difficult. Photo: Internet Source
During the House of Assembly (HoA) on December 19, 2016 via a question posed by senior Opposition Member Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), left, to Premier and Leader of Government business Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) right, it was revealed that from December 2011 to present Central Government paid out to private law firms, individual lawyers and even international law firms, some $6,286, 920.86. Photo: VINO/File
During the House of Assembly (HoA) on December 19, 2016 via a question posed by senior Opposition Member Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1), left, to Premier and Leader of Government business Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) right, it was revealed that from December 2011 to present Central Government paid out to private law firms, individual lawyers and even international law firms, some $6,286, 920.86. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The word on the streets for the past 5 to 7 years that it’s hard to find a law firm or even a lawyer to bring a case against the Government of the Virgin Islands (VI) for injustice or even to obtain an interpretation of certain unclear sections of the VI Constitution continues to be the case.

Many Public Officers, who have been fired, working in unhealthy environments, and whose contracts have been broken, complain that most local law firms or lawyers are reluctant to take on their cases. 

Law firm raking in millions

But it might be clear why local law firms are hard to find to take cases against the government as many law firms and lawyers themselves are earning millions of tax dollars out of both Central Government and statutory bodies.

It was unearthed at the Third Sitting of the Second Session of the Third House of Assembly (HoA) on December 19, 2016 via a question posed by senior Opposition Member Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) to Premier and Leader of Government business Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL) that from December 2011 to present Central Government paid out to private law firms, individual lawyers and even international law firms, some Six Million Two Hundred and Eighty Six Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty Dollars and Eighty Six Cents ($6,286, 920.86).

While there is an Attorney General’s Chambers which is the government’s paid legal department, Premier Smith justified the millions spent on private legal services by telling the HoA “there are many reasons where this is necessary for private legal firms or legal persons to be engaged by Government….assisting in High Court matters where this is thought necessary…and in the negotiation of contracts on behalf of Government…”

Statutory Bodies also pay out big to private law firms

Not only does Central Government dole out millions of taxpayers money to private legal firms and legal persons but the statutory bodies do the same.

According to Premier Smith in answer in the HoA on December 19, 2016 some Two Million Five Hundred and Eighty Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty Three Dollars and Twenty Six Cents ($2,580,733.26) was paid out by these government owned bodies.

This means that Government, including Statutory Boards, have spent as of from December 2011 to December 2016 some Eight Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty Seven Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty Four Hundred and Twelve Cents ($8,867,654.12).

With that kind of monies for private legal service the National Democratic Party Administration could have had three Attorney General’s Chambers, according to a senior government official.

See links below to detailed report of Government's payout to private law firms:

Click here to download document 1.

Click here to download document 2.

22 Responses to “Over $8M paid out by Gov’t for services from private law firms”

  • civic (28/12/2016, 13:42) Like (15) Dislike (1) Reply
    WOW! what really is the function of the Attorney General Chambers if the BVI government has to dole out that kind of money to private law firms? this is such a messed up situation , no wonder the ordinary person cannot get justice when they have a case against the government and they then go to these private law firms for representation. Why are they spending money so recklessly when they economy is at its worst state right now? --- and the irony of it all is that it's the taxpayers dollars!
    • EEEHHh (28/12/2016, 20:07) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      You said it right. All you hear from them is "there is a conflict of interest" and they can't represent you. What a blasted corrupt country. The Government's nipple long meh boy and these crooks latch on for dear life. But who the hell are these people buddy?
      Grace Chambers
      Denjen Law
      Noel, Lisa
      Clive Pegus
      Simons, MuirHead & Burton
      PST Law
      Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
      And the list goes on and on................

      But at the end of the day, what the AG office doing. Like they need to be fired. Wha really going on here meh son?
  • I wonder (28/12/2016, 13:51) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    how much went to orion's account?
  • Xxx (28/12/2016, 14:31) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    Who the hell is barkern kelly another one on the nipple
  • need (28/12/2016, 18:05) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Legal aid is when people cant pay their attorneys so the Government help them. The Gov need to employ Public defenders.
    • @Need (29/12/2016, 08:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      So what do you think Legal Aid is? All Law firms work at a discounted rate to provide legal assistance to persons in need. It is a more efficient system for a small place like BVI instead of increasing Govt payroll. Therefore persons have access to quality legal services. Because when persons cannot win their case, we all know Govt would get the blame.
  • apple pie (28/12/2016, 18:31) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    The rick getting richer
  • lord o. (28/12/2016, 19:42) Like (18) Dislike (0) Reply
    If anything ever need investigating is this one.
    • @ lord O. (28/12/2016, 20:02) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
      who will investigate when the governor said there is no corruption?
      • Lawyers for Sale. (29/12/2016, 04:09) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
        Need your own Lawyer, come to the BVI and by one and get all what you want in the BVI. Without Hassle..
  • experienced (28/12/2016, 20:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    this is done in the states in various places, usually smaller ones, so that the victim of whatever crime cannot get a
    private lawyer - they're all bought up by the very ones perpetuating the given crime. in the BVI there is also a
    certain infamous bank that has done this very thing - bought up a bunch of lawyers here so that one can't sue them.
    won't name names but some of these lawyers are very prominent and have family working at same bank.
  • Yes (28/12/2016, 20:48) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lets just close down the AG's Chambers then.
  • sand man (29/12/2016, 00:27) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    You see why the ndp left the country broke
  • Oh My (29/12/2016, 01:10) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Just the normal more corruption
  • Worry not. (29/12/2016, 04:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    All good deeds have their blessings in store..All Evil acts have their day of sorrow in store...Time...Just a matter of time... So Frett not thy self Worry not and do what's right.
  • Love for My Country (29/12/2016, 07:25) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply

    Just read this article and some of the blogging and I am disgusted. These Bodies are operated outside of the Government norms, under legislation and managed by Boards, therefore they would hire their own legal adviser. 

  • Ummm (29/12/2016, 08:56) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    Has no-one realised that the majority of these amounts are Baker & McKenzie, and they aren't SEPARATE amounts, they are the work in progress at each date (that's why each subsequent invoice is for a larger amount)...

    BUT, all of them have been added up. So in 2016 B&M was only owed $122,230.00 in total. Yet they counted all the following (as the bill progressed) as separate amounts:

    $28,848.02
    $68,617.05
    $76,665.36
    $84,379.89
    $84,902.33
    $122,230.00

    This seems to have been done for a number of the overseas law firms.

    If you don't double-count then the legal spend is millions lower.
  • -------------------- (29/12/2016, 14:07) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Every body eating of my tax dollars expect the POOR
  • wow (29/12/2016, 19:07) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    We should vote ndp out


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