Senator Abrahams pleased with reduction

OPPOSITION Senator Wilfred Abrahams said he is happy that Government has taken the decision to reduce professional fees.

 

His comments came  during his contribution to the Profession, Trade and Registration Bill yesterday where he highlighted the plight of lawyers whom he said were hard-hit by the increase.

 

“We were astounded when our professional fees went from $500 a year to $2 500 a year, an increase of over 500 per cent which we considered unconscionable and Draconian. The professionals would breathe a sigh of relief over this new development... I believe still the end result is an increase of about 250 per cent and maybe needs to be looked at again.”

 

Senator Abrahams said this is particularly difficult for young lawyers who were newly called to the Bar. “Someone who would have been called in November or even October last year would have to pay their full fees for the year and turn around two months later having probably not earning any significant fees, having to pay the full registration fee again.

 

“So maybe we have to look at prorating that, especially for the young professionals. This is a very difficult and oppressive fee structure. If you look at what it is meant to do, when young professionals are called usually late in the year after the graduation of the UWI, the Government may look at waiving entirely the fee for the two or three months of that year and instituting the fee for the following year, or charge the fee when you are first registered and waive it for the first year. These things may be considered,” he told the Honourable House.

 

The Senator also made a case for rebates for those who have already paid increased fees, recognising that others have not. “If as Senator Byer has indicated there are some professions that have not been charged the new fee and still operated under the old regime up until now, then I think it is only equitable that those who would have paid the super-increased fees will get some rebate or allowance be made for them just as a matter of fairness.

 

“The law can’t apply to some and not to all. It has to be applied across the board or it doesn’t. And in this case I would ask rather than increase or charging those who benefited from the failure to implement the legislation, rather than charge them an increased amount, I suggest that we look at reducing and rebating those who did actually pay the 500 per cent increase as it was in some places,” he opined. (JH)