We Need a Competent & Qualified DPP

Contributed by: A Former Prosecutor

I am a former prosecutor and I wrote to bring to the attention of the Prime Minister, the Attorney General and the Belizean people a serious problem in the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

There are allegations and I emphasize the word that the present DPP was passing information to the UDP before the general elections. If so, this would possibly have been done to obtain favor from the UDP if they won the elections. The UDP won the elections and the Attorney General almost immediately started a public lobby to remove the then DPP Mr. Latchman and replace him with Miss Branker-Taitt.

The Attorney General under the law has no say in the appointment of the DPP. Such is done by the Judicial Services Commission consisting of Judges, Members of the Bar Association and ranking officials in the Public Service.

The Attorney General succeeded in removing an experienced and mature Mr. Latchman and the said Miss Branker-Taitt was made to act as DPP for a period of two years.

To have a person acting in such an important office for two years smacks of political machinations. It creates the impression that the person can be manipulated because their getting the job depends on pleasing the political directorate. The other issue is the uncertainty an acting DPP will cause in the office.

The public needs to recall that it is under Miss Branker-Taitt that the former two time Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Said Musa was arrested and charged for theft of monies which were at the Belize Bank. Senior Counsel for Mr. Musa pointed out that there never was any investigation conducted by the Government or the Police. The DPP charged Mr. Musa solely on the basis of his political enemy Hon. Dean Barrow writing a report. There was nothing else in the file. The case against Mr. Musa collapsed. The DPP lied to Belizeans when she stated that she could not appeal. She could. Her real problem is she had no case from the outset.

The situation was similar with a false allegation against former Minister Jose Coye. There was no evidence of any crime. The person should have sued in civil court. There was no evidence of any cheques totaling half a million dollars. There were no receipts. There was no suggestion the person even gave monies to Mr. Coye. He claimed he gave such large monies to a driver. In the end the person himself withdraw the false allegation and the court threw out the charges.

For the DPP to bring such high profile charges against former ministers without ANY EVIDENCE is an indictment against her. A DPP is part of the administration of Justice, not a political tool of the UDP politicians.

Inside the office of the DPP there is demoralization of the staff. Upon being given the job Miss Branker-Taitt immediately set about to get rid of Audrey Matura, a competent and dedicated prosecutor. Tracy Sosa was also given ill treatment causing one of the best prosecutors to leave and she is now a Magistrate. Mrs. Merlene Matute was a Belizean and has far more experience and knowledge than Miss Branker-Taitt and was told she was not wanted in the office. She left. Nadine Palacio has written to Belmopan asking for a transfer. A prosecutor recently recruited from overseas has indicated he is leaving. Mrs. Purcell from overseas, another foreigner has applied for a transfer. If unsuccessful she will leave. Mr. Cecil Ramirez, a Belizean with over twenty years experience who should be the DPP has indicated he is leaving.

Miss Branker-Taitt is on maternity leave for the second time in two years. She has refused to relinquish her Acting appointment and is running the office from her home by telephone. This alone speaks volumes of irresponsibility to think she can operate such a vital institution as the prosecution directorate by telephone and treat all those experienced and qualified attorneys as if they are her messengers.

I need make no mention of the utterly disgraceful situation that has become known to the public as nolle prosequi. There is even the joke making the rounds that rapists and murderers have their best attorney in the person of the DPP who can almost guarantee their acquittal with shoddy case files and nolle prosequi.

I am retired from these matters and have no axe to grind. I call on the Bar Association, the Crime Control Council and the Judicial Commission to seek a suitable and competent person to be the Director of Public Prosecutions if we Belizeans ate to regain some faith in the fight against crime.

I am signing this article but must ask that my name not be printed for obvious reasons.

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