Attorney General: 79% Of Posts Currently Filled

June 2, 2018

“79% [46 of the 58 posts] are currently filled” which is in “stark contrast to the press release claiming an occupancy rate of only 49%,” Attorney General Kathy Simmons said.

Her comments follow after circular released by the Acting Registrar said there will be a “reduction of the scope of services provided to Bermuda by the Judicial Department” which is a “direct result of the Department’s relentless staffing crisis” as “with just a 51% complement of staff” they are “no longer in a position to continue to attempt to provide full services.”

A joint statement from Chief Justice Dr Ian Kawaley and Acting Registrar Alexandra Wheatley stated that “this state of affairs is crippling the Judicial Department’s ability to provide efficient and effective access to justice for Bermuda’s residents.”

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Kathy Simmons said, “As a follow-up to the Press Release in regards to this matter, updated figures have come to light that paint an even clearer picture of the status of the Judicial department.

“There are 13 members of Judiciary. These include a President of the Supreme Court and 2 Court of Appeal Justices, A Chief Justice [CJ] and 4 Puisne Judges of the Supreme Court, a Senior Magistrate and 4 Magistrates in the Magistrate Court. These posts are 100% occupied.

“The staffing issues raised by the CJ and Acting Registrar’s Press Release, relate to the 58 posts that are in place to support the Judiciary in carrying out its responsibilities.

“The pie chart below reveals that 79% [46 of the 58 posts] are currently filled. Clearly, this is in stark contrast to the Press Release claiming an occupancy rate of only 49%. In fact there are only 12 unoccupied posts [representing 21% of the total] of which all are administrative staff.

Pie Chart Bermuda June 1 2018

“The public should be aware that 17% or ten [10] of the 46 occupied posts are filled by acting personnel to ensure that there is sufficient support to sustain operations while the recruitment process is underway.

“The CJ’s Press Statement concedes that staffing issues did not start with the current Government. In fact the record shows that much has been done to address the issue since the current administration came to office in July 2017.

“Since July 2017, the job descriptions for 37 positions were revised and were completed through the job evaluation process. Some of these had not been revised for over 20 years.”

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Comments (17)

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  1. Ian was obviously not aligned with what posts have been filled.
    It appears as if he was blowing off “OLD STEAM.”
    Well, it is time for Ian to “get a grip”!!

    • legalgal says:

      That’s Chief Justice Kawaley to you. Not so straight and not so forward.

      • Infidelguy says:

        Give me a break! Isn’t his name IAN Kawaley? Chief Justice is his job title which in my view is not something to be respected in itself. We respect people for the way they they treat people not abstract things like job titles. I don’t know where this [ stupid ] idea came from that a person should be respected because of their job title. My bet is that it comes from the colonial era.

        • SMH says:

          ” My bet is that it comes from the colonial era.”

          So, it’s like ‘colonial’, ‘honourable’ and Dame? You’d think those bestowed with those titles would renounce them…but, hypocrisy is one of Bermudas favourite things :)

  2. Mark says:

    Sorry AG, you have not shown yourself to be honest or trustworthy or competant. Dont believe you.

  3. just wondering says:

    The CJ’s Press Statement concedes that staffing issues did not start with the current Government. In fact the record shows that much has been done to address the issue since the current administration came to office in July 2017.”

    Firstly its wasn’t a press release – it was a Court Circular and the AG should know the difference
    Secondly if indeed this wasn’t the fault of the PLP then why were the Government Ministers attacking the CJ in the house of assembly last night??? Or maybe its just more of “lets shoot the messenger”.

    • Mark says:

      Basically they dont like being shown to be wrong or to blame and then they lash out…sound like someone? Our country is being run by petulant children

  4. puzzled says:

    Oh Lord.
    Another Kathy Trump.
    I need a joint.

  5. aceboy says:

    Well…she showed us a pie chart. That proves it! No problem any longer. The pie chart has spoken! All hail the pie chart!

    • steve says:

      I dont know anything about this lady, but when i saw the pie chart and it being used as the smoking gun…i darn well fell off my chair laughing.

      • aceboy says:

        Yes well pie charts aren’t snappy PowerPoint presentations using 3 fonts and some animated spinning clip art…those are truly definitive. But they are close.

  6. cpm says:

    Is it legal for political parties to use schools/post offices for their bye election propaganda?

  7. Question says:

    What are ‘acting’ staff? Temps? Untrained hourly workers? No wonder the place is a mess.

  8. cpm says:

    Further to my previous post can I use Government property[the taxpayers]to promote a political party

  9. Happy says:

    In simple terms, 22 of the 58 posts aren’t filled or are filled by temporary people.

  10. Hmmm says:

    Playing with numbers (just like an accountant) Temps make up the difference.. so they are both right… I have to say that temps quite often do not have the experience/training/drive to carry out the full requirements of a given position.. so Im gonna side with the CJ on this one!!

  11. cpm says:

    Is it legal for the plp to use school premises for their propaganda?
    If I had a child at the school could I object?