It was interesting reading the report of the former president of the Jamaican Bar Association (JBA) John Leiba's comments on the number of lawyers being struck from the Bar.
The report stated, "According to Leiba, the incidence of lawyers being struck from the roll is eroding confidence in the legal profession." I would suggest to Mr Leiba that his association's lack of action in even suggesting a plan to deal with the situation might cause a greater erosion of confidence. The association is not even able to, or not willing, to provide the media with the number of lawyers who have been disbarred.
Independent entity
The problem seems to stem from clients having to deposit monies into the personal accounts of lawyers for the purpose of transfer between the clients of two or more lawyers. Why can't the JBA advocate for the establishment of such transfer accounts to be, not under the direct control of the lawyers? Such accounts should be fully or partially administered by an independent entity.
The article might have not been fair to Mr. Leiba by failing to present any suggestions that he may have posited to redress the situation, but all the expression of concerns will do nothing to reverse the criminal behaviour of those culpable ones, nor stem the erosion of confidence.
I am, etc.,
EMANUEL S. GRANT
grante@aero.und.edu