Solicitor-General of Belize

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The Solicitor-General of Belize is a law officer of the government of Belize, subordinate to the Attorney-General of Belize. The office is defined briefly by the Constitution of Belize, which mentions it as one of the ex officio members of the Public Services Commission. [1] In 1999, after Gian Ghandi was removed from the SG position, the role's responsibilities were revised; in particular, court administrative and financial functions were transferred to the Permanent Secretary of the Attorney-General's Ministry, while law drafting became the responsibility of the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, then Elson Kaseke. [2] From 2008 to 2009 the office of Solicitor-General was vacant, leading to criticism of PM Dean Barrow. [3]

List of Solicitors-General of Belize

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Elson Kaseke (1967–2011) was a Zimbabwean lawyer. A long-time resident of Belize, he served that country in a variety of capacities including as a legal draftsman and as Solicitor-General before becoming an attorney in private practice there.

Chester Williams is the Commissioner of Belize and highest police officer of the Belize Police Department. His rapid rise through the ranks of the police was interrupted by fellow officers' allegations that he had committed a murder. The government of Belize pursued a dubious disciplinary action against him despite the objections of the Solicitor-General, and he was reduced in rank for six months. Williams was eventually reinstated, but the accusations continued to dog his career until it was revealed that the man he had allegedly murdered was actually alive and well in the United States, a fact that had been known to his superiors for some time. Thus vindicated, Williams took up a new post as Officer Commanding the Cayo District Police, but the following month announced that he would be taking study leave in order to attend law school.

Gian Chand Ghandi was a Belizean lawyer. He served as Belize's Solicitor-General for thirteen years before moving to the Ministry of Economic Development.

Fouad "Alfred" Schakron was a Belizean businessman and the ex-husband of People's United Party political hopeful Yolanda Schakron. He was murdered in broad daylight outside a Belize City gym, leaving police mystified as to the motive or the identity of the killers.

Rodwell Roosevelt Adlai Williams is a Belizean lawyer. He is a name partner, along with Prime Minister of Belize and United Democratic Party leader Dean Barrow, in the Belize City law firm Barrow & Williams.

Michel Hannah Chebat, Jr. is a Belizean lawyer. He has previously served as Chairman of Belize's Social Security Board as well as President of the Bar Association of Belize. He is a partner in the law firm of Shoman and Chebat together with Lisa Shoman.

References

  1. "Part VII". Constitution of Belize. Attorney General of Belize. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  2. 1 2 "Ghandi's contract up, Flowers as Acting Sol Gen". News 5 Belize. 1999-10-19. Retrieved 2012-04-22.
  3. 1 2 "Belize without a Solicitor General for almost a year". 2009-05-12. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  4. "Former CJ Sir George Brown passes at 65". The Belize Reporter. 2007-07-27. Retrieved 2012-04-20.
  5. "Chief and two new justices sworn in". News 5 Belize. 1998-02-02. Retrieved 2012-04-20.
  6. "Kaseke appointed as new Solicitor General". News 5 Belize. 2001-09-06. Retrieved 2012-04-22.
  7. 1 2 "Edwin Flowers appointed Solicitor General of Belize". News 5 Belize. 2006-05-31. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  8. "Former Solicitor General, Dr. Elson Kaseke, dies at 44". Amandala . 2011-12-09. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  9. "Solicitor General Tanya Herwanger Resigns". 7 News Belize. 2008-06-24. Retrieved 2012-04-22.
  10. "New Solicitor General Assumes Office Monday". 7 News Belize. 2009-06-12. Retrieved 2012-04-22.
  11. "Jamaican Belizean Cheryl Krusen becomes the new Solicitor General". News 5 Belize. 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2012-04-21.