A warning has been sounded about a possible exodus of judges who are seriously considering more lucrative international jobs.The T&T Guardian was told that on February 28, Andre Mondesir who was appointed a judge in 2009, tendered his resignation to take up private practice in the Cayman Islands.Sources predicted that Mondesir's resignation would be followed by several other resignations if their renumeration package is not revised soon.
This comes on the heels of a renewed appeal by Chief Justice Ivor Archie at the opening of the law term last September for revised renumeration packages for judges. Archie noted that after his first appeal in 2011, the Salaries Review Commission embarked on a review, but he said it might take another year before a final package is arrived at.
"The last review brought us up to 2008 so we will be playing catch-up five years later when the value of any back pay we receive would have been decimated by inflation. In the meantime we have to face Hi-Lo and PriceSmart at 2012 prices. We can't go on like that," Archie had said.T&T Guardian understands that "quite a few" judges were contemplating job opportunities in Hong Kong and several African countries, including Libya and Ghana.
"At least six or seven judges are looking at Hong Kong. I have one (application form) myself but I have not filled it out as yet," said one judge, who asked to remain unidentified, said.Mondesir's resignation stems from lack of proper renumeration review for judges."
"There have been meetings among judges who are complaining about the same issue, lack of revision of salaries." With regards to housing allowance, he said they were asking for the present sum of $10,500 to be increased to US$5,000 since that is the rental cost for the standard of housing they are entitled to under the Constitution.However, fired justice minister and former judge Herbert Volney does not support the judges' call for increased salaries.
Expressing his personal views on the issue, Volney said: "I think that given the state of the economy I do not think that there is any compelling case for any major salary overhaul of the upper echelons of society at this time."He said the judges' renumeration package should not be interfered with "more that perhaps the percentage increases that other public sector persons have been receiving between five and nine per cent on salary."
However, Volney said he would support an increase in housing allowance but not a substantial increase.The judiciary's Information and Protocol manager Jones P Madeira said he was not advised of the resignation of Mondesir neither was he aware of any collective dissatisfaction of the judges.
"I am not aware of any protest or letter (from the judges) or anything of the sort." Noting that the renumeration package issue was raised in the Chief Justice's address during the opening of the new law term, Madeira said discussions were continuing and was not sure of anything conclusive taking place.