Gov’t pays out $464m in legal claims

Attorney General Marlene Malahoo Forte has disclosed that the Government has paid out $287 million on judgment debts and $177 million in settlement for the April 2019 to March 2020 period.

With 20,808 cases now under review, including those for legal opinion and litigation, Malahoo Forte said the chambers has an inadequate number of lawyers, affecting its ability to timely review cases on behalf of the State.

She also pointed out that the Government has recovered $168,000 but paid out millions for accidents involving government vehicles.

“This is an issue that is a sore point for members of the public who have accidents,” Malahoo Forte admitted during her Sectoral Debate contribution in the House of Representatives yesterday.