Jagan II receives money for a non-existent qualification
Dear Editor,
A disturbing situation was recently brought to my attention. It must be exposed, and urgently dealt with by this government if the government is serious about combating corruption and oligarchy.
When Kaieteur News first published the list of “fat cats” earning “super salaries” under this PPP/C government, the Guyanese population learned that among the most highly paid employees of this government was Cheddi Beret Jagan, II, who was listed as an “attorney-at-law” working at the Office of the President, and earning approximately $489,666 per month.
Everyone bought into the idea that Mr. Jagan II was a duly qualified attorney-at-law, who is licensed to practise law in at least one jurisdiction.
In fact, he himself has furthered this idea by signing multiple letters in the Guyanese newspapers with the suffix “Esq.,” a title reserved for attorneys who have attained the requisite professional qualifications to practise law.
Yet, there is no record that Mr. Jagan II is, as he claims, an attorney-at-law, much less one who is licensed to practise law in Guyana.
I diligently checked the online records of the Guyana Chronicle, Stabroek News and Kaieteur News, and found not a single article about Mr. Jagan II being called to the bar in Guyana. I also spoke with multiple Guyanese attorneys who all stated that they are unaware of Mr. Jagan II being called to the Bar in Guyana.
There is also no evidence that Mr. Jagan II possesses the (Certificate of Legal Education) LEC, which is a prerequisite to become a member of the Bar in Guyana.
Likewise, there is no evidence that Mr. Jagan II is licensed to practice law in any state in the United States of America.
Mr. Jagan II has himself admitted, in a heated, often pompous and arrogant online discussion related to one of his letters on EzJet (see comments after letter at
http://www.stabroeknews.com/20...ance-is-disgraceful/), that he is not licensed to practice in any jurisdiction, though he took the New York Bar Exam in February, 2012.
Unfortunately, Mr. Jagan II’s name was not on the list of successful candidates for the February exam. (See: http://www.nybarexam.org/EXR212/HJ210.html).
Nevertheless, it appears as though Mr. Jagan II re-sat this exam in July, 2012, and was finally successful. (See: http://www.nybarexam.org/EXRJ12/HJ711.html). Congratulations are in order for him in passing this exam.
I hope though, that Mr. Jagan II will be honest and admit that merely passing the NY Bar Exam is insufficient in and of itself to qualify one as an attorney-at-law.
The fact is that Mr. Jagan II has to further undergo a Character and Fitness Exam, where his personal character and background is examined, and only after passing this (a process that takes months), will he be certified to be sworn in to the NY Bar, and eventually become a licensed attorney.
At the moment, Mr. Jagan II’s name does not appear on the official list of attorneys licensed to practise law in New York State. (See: http://iapps.courts.state.ny.u...orney/AttorneySearch).
Mr. Jagan II’s background is fair game because he is a highly-paid official employed by the Office of the President, paid by the Guyanese people via their taxes. And when it is examined, one finds that his academic and professional qualifications cannot possibly justify his employment at the Office of the President, much less the exorbitant salary that he is paid.
How can Mr. Jagan II be paid as an “attorney-at-law” when he is not an attorney? How can he give legal advice to this government when he is not licensed to do so?
How can he justify his salary which is significantly higher even than that earned by lecturers at the University of Guyana when he has not even attained the professional requirements for the position he holds? Is he engaged in the unauthorized practice of law, and if so, what is the government’s response?
This PPP/C government loves to argue that there is no evidence of corruption and oligarchy in Guyana, so I am publicly asking it to justify Mr. Jagan II’s employment at the Office of the President, taking into consideration his failure/inability, thus far, to obtain a bar license and his relative lack of experience, as compared to the others of eminently more qualified attorneys in Guyana.
Mr. Anil Nandlall, the Attorney General, ought to also explain to the Guyanese public how this government can justify seeking/relying upon the legal advice of Mr. Jagan II when he is not a licensed attorney – anywhere in the world!
Finally, this PPP/C government should inform Guyanese how other qualified attorneys can obtain a position at the Office of the President with similar responsibilities and pay as that Mr. Jagan II enjoys.
Disgusted Guyanese
