TCI: SIPT costs to balloon this budget year

#TurksandCaicos, July 8, 2021 – Legal costs of the Special Investigation and Prosecution Trial are expected to balloon this upcoming budget year; more money allocated to the Attorney General’s Chambers was scrutinized by Opposition Appointed member to the House, Alvin Garland and it was revealed that the new format for the trails is forecast to be more expensive. 

During close inspection of what has been dubbed, the People’s Term Budget, Hon Garland asked of the AG the reason for an increase in spending at the Chambers.  Hon RhondaLee Braithwaite Knowles offered that increase is linked to the new style of SIPT. 

Following the sudden passing of Justice Paul Harrison, who was presiding over the matter where there are corruption charges against members of the Michael Misick led government administration, it was determined by the Chief Justice that the trial would be continued. 

Some defendants were dropped, some charges were changed and separate trials were ordered by the high court. 

The Attorney General reminded the Opposition’s Member of the impact of Covid-19 on particularly criminal proceedings which were unable to play out due to the health regulations enforced for much of 2020, resulting in a reduction in spending last year.   

The Chambers is allotted $6.7 million in the 2021-2022 Budget year, of that $4 million is assigned to legal costs . 

In comparison with what was a more regular year for the office, the Attorney General offered that in 2019, the actual expenditure on legal costs was $3.84 million.

Hon Garland said he is concerned that the increase is so high, $800,000; however the AG corrected that the increase is actually $600,000 and called the figure “reasonable”.  The SIPT trial is expected to carry on for another 18 months informed Hon Braithwaite-Knowles.