More than $462m approved for judgement debt payments

ATTORNEY GENERAL Marlene Malahoo Forte said $462 million has been approved for the payment of judgement debts for the current financial year.

“If the amount provided is insufficient, we will again seek additional funds with a view to satisfying the obligations that arise in the course of this financial year,” she said.

She was making her contribution to the 2018-19 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

Malahoo Forte said that as at the end of May 2018, payments amounting to just under $78 million were made to claimants.

These include payments for personal injury of approximately $40.8 million; false imprisonment, $12.1 million; unlawful seizure by the police, $9.1 million; constitutional redress, $6.4 million; medical negligence, $6 million; assault and battery, $2.5 million; and accidents involving government vehicles, $507,144.42.

BIG BUCKS FOR 2017-18 PAYMENTS

Just over $1.3 billion was paid out by the Government for judgment debts for the 2017-18 financial year.

“With the exception of interest liability, this covered the entire amount due as at the end of March 2017,” Malahoo Forte said.

She said that the Chambers will continue to intensify efforts to work with the police to reduce liability as the majority of the payments made for financial year 2017-18 resulted from claims arising out of police actions.

These include constitutional redress, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, assault and battery, and unlawful seizure of property, which constituted approximately 52 per cent of payments.

Medical negligence claims accounted for nine per cent of payments; accidents, 25 per cent; and personal injury matters, 14 per cent.