The PM is a lawyer, the last two PMs were lawyers, the PM was Atty General, the present AG was AG in a previous Gov’t, the most senior Gov’t Minister who acts as deputy PM in the PM’s absence is a lawyer. Did any of the these ever suggest any changes in the relationship between lawyer and client? Did they make it mandatory for lawyers handling civil cases to establish Trust Accounts to separate operating funds from client funds? When they hear/heard of improprieties did they take action?
They operate like some secret society ready to prey on the “great unwashed” who darkens their door. Even on the rare occasion that the Court find them guilty of stealing client funds no restitution order is made which enables them to live off the clients’ funds after they have served their sentence.
When Ms. Pile was on trial, the Court was packed with lawyers who were sympathetic to her and ready to deliver pre-sentencing statements on her behalf. They take care of their own – Sargeant
When the injustice meted out by Michael Carrington to a wheelchair bound septuagenarian broke, Prime Minister Freundel Stuart advised – then leader of our parliament – to secure the services of a lawyer. History will record this statement to be one of the most ignorant uttered by a prime minister of Barbados.
On Friday (4 October 2019) the president of the Barbados Bar Association (BBA) Rosalind Smith-Millar was quoted in the local media advising the beneficiary of Stephen Archer’s estate to seek legal representation in order to secure the 2.7 million in compensation BL&P paid to Archer’s lawyer reported to be Ernest Jackman. Ernest Jackman is no stranger to BU and is featured on BU LAWYERS in the NEWS.
The advice given by the Bar president reminds citizens why the the application of the law sometimes is said to defy common sense and as a result “Is the law an ass? remains a valid question. To reinforce the point the BU family recently discussed the legitimacy of Commissioner of Police Tyrone Griffith’s public assertion he cannot investigate the ICBL, Donville Inniss matter unless a member of the public files a complaint. There are many examples of BL&P and FLOW taking advantage of citizens and the regulatory bodies despite consumer protection laws are passive in defence of consumers.
The majority of lawyers licenced to practice law in Barbados had their education funded by taxpayers. It is said that Barbados has more practising lawyers per thousand than any other country in the world. The Barbados Bar Association and the Disciplinary Committee were established for a reason – to regulate the legal profession. We have had too many stories of lawyers misappropriating funds, stonewalling the release of documents, not meeting with clients to discuss matters, colluding with other lawyers to frustrate deals, not attending court sessions to permit matters to close etc etc etc.
Enough is enough!
We live in an era where John Public has access to various social media platforms. Yea yea yea it comes with all the warts, BUT, there is the good that it can do. Naming and shaming these ‘summabitches’ will ensure reputations are sullied, forever. If the bodies to regulate the professional class including lawyers fail to protect members of the public, they will have to suffer the consequences. It is clear the Barbados Bar Association and its sidekick the disciplinary Committee supported by the bevy of lawyers in parliament will not side with the public.
A couple years ago the blogmaster had an exchange with a former president of the Bar who expressed frustration at the lack of resources available to do a better job and the need for legislative teeth. The blogmaster is satisfied stakeholders have no interest in changing the existing arrangement. In fact it is reasonable to conclude the Bar is used by prominent lawyers as a pathway to secure QC status, that is all.
Waru
I promised not to comment about anything you wrote but your above comment is profound. I did not listen to the video, perhaps I should. I am drawing inference from what others wrote. However, if he was not behind the truck but behind a cement mixer that was centimeters away from the truck that sheds light in a completely different way. That means, that the insurance company is usurping their power in this matter to paint a different picture of events. If he was at break, and behind a cement mixer, there is no negligence or lack of due diligence in this matter. The Insurance company are operating as the big eagle on a little fish. He can easily win this case if it goes to court. Kerry Symmonds reluctance to go to court is certainly a faux pas or deliberate act. The injured has a lot of grounds to stand on, Kerry Symmonds certainly has a lot to answer for regarding the stances he took.
SSS…that is what happened, he was standing in front of a cement mixer that was behind the truck, which are also huge vehicles, the truck hit the cement mixer which then hit him and a colleague then pulled him from under the cement mixer which would have killed him otherwise…but some of those who watched the video or maybe even not cause they are known to not read posts but post shite anyway…so they switched the narrative so they can post shite and give the insurance company more ammunition to violate this man’s human rights.
…some black people are BLACK PEOPLE’S BIGGEST AND WORSE ENEMIES.
Let’s see what Symmonds does now…that is what dirty lawyers do, twist the narrative to line their own pockets, when you watch the video you will hear that Symonds gave them a WHOLE DIFFERENT VERSION….initially ….then he switched the story to side with the insurance company…what he said on whatsapp…does not compare in any form or fashion with what he first told his injured client…pure wickedness.
WURA,
I watched the whole video. I did realize that he was standing behind the cement mixer and not the truck. I wondered though if he was supposed to be standing there, especially at that time and if the driver of the truck had been given the order to do something during the break. If so he would have been doing so under the impression that all was clear. It is quite possible there was a manual that said that workers should leave the work space while on break. This is why I say that more information would be needed to determine liability.
Sunny Sunshine is correct that if orientation was not adequately done or if it was a norm not challenged by the foreman, even with a written manual the fault would lie with the employer.
Best determined in the courts.
Donna
Most construction sites after breaks like to blow horns. The horn is not just the start of lunch/break or the ending of it, but a signal that alerts all workers that work is about to start again. Obviously, when that signal goes off, workers will remove themselves from whatever positions they were found to be in. I am of the opinion that safety on construction sites was not as beefed up as it should in the accident that took place with this man. There are too many factors in this case that tells you that the insurance company is operating ad hominem and trying to avoid a payout. The family should press to go to court and lay a complaint at the feet of the BAR Association/ Disciplinary Committee for disrespectful Kerry Symmonds- the wife beater if memory serves me correct.
” I wondered though if he was supposed to be standing there,”
It was the standard 15 minute break when everything STOPS, all work halted…don’t know why the truck was moved without the driver CHECKING to make sure no one was standing near or leaning on the mixer or even the truck, during the break, it seems that he reversed and hit the mixer which injured the claimant, it is a very straight forward case, but these sell out lawyers and vicious insurance companies spend YEARS complicating simple cases, waiting for the claimant to die.
Sunny Sunshine,
All insurance companies try to avoid a payout.
Don’t recall hearing any horns in Barbados except while watching the Flintstones. Of course, that does not mean they aren’t used.
Donna…that case really should have gone to court but Symmonds obviously has his own agenda…now he has exposed himself…too many uppity lawyers in Barbados HATE taking instructions from their clients….but lawyers are SUPPOSED to take instructions…thing is these low crawling scum believe they are above that…and that is why this man is suffering, shithead symmonds is not working in his client’s best interest.
Ah bet ya they put in an insurance claim for the truck damaging the mixer and got a payout though…that is metal…but they will SUFFER the human hit by the mixer through no fault of his own.
What can we say…THIEVES in the parliament….THIEVES in the bar..everyone gotta know them…
https://www.facebook.com/jackie.stewart.965/videos/1135078060035065/?t=0
Talk ya talk girl. I hearing that. Rogue Works said watch ma, I got this.