Falklands : NEW ATTORNEY GENREAL LOOKING FORWARD TO CHALLENGES
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 21.04.2011 (Article Archived on 13.05.2011)
A Report for FIRS by Stacey Bragger (SB) 04/19/11
NEW ATTORNEY GENREAL LOOKING FORWARD TO CHALLENGES
A Report for FIRS by Stacey Bragger (SB) 04/19/11
The newly arrived Attorney General for the Falkland Islands Government says he is looking forward to the challenges of his new role. Mark Lewis (ML) has been in the post for three weeks now. He told me more about his background.
ML: Prior to coming to the Falklands I worked for the Audit Commission for about 10 years, advising auditors on all sorts of things having to do with public law and bodies ranging from health, fire, police, local governments parish councils – you name it. Prior to that, I worked for local government for about 13 years as a sort of solicitor to the council type role and director of corporate services type role.
SB: And what made you want to apply for the position of Attorney General here in the Falklands?
ML: I think there are a number of reasons behind that. But I think the truth of the matter is I was ready for something a bit different I think is probably as simple as that.
SB: Is it the sort of thing that just sprang out at you or did you have to think about it for a while?
ML: In all honesty, when I saw the advertisement it did leap out at me and I tore the page out straight away, took it home to my wife, showed her and said, “that’s my job.”
SB: You have been in the Falklands for about three weeks now. How have you enjoyed it so far?
ML: My first impression of the Falklands is, I love it. I was brought up in Cornwall and have been living in Devon for the last 10 years. To me it just looks like Dartmore by the sea and I think it’s just great.
SB: And how have you settled in here in the Attorney General’s Chambers?
ML: People have been very kind and have made me very welcome but it’s been a dive into the deep end, I think. But everybody here is very friendly and very helpful.
SB: Have you been able to assess the challenges in the position yet?
ML: It’s early days, isn’t it? What I have worked out is that your day can consist of just about anything that has legal connotations to it at all, so I think the work is going to be varied and mixed and very exciting, I think.
SB: What kind of quality do you think you bring to this role?
ML: I guess I would describe myself as a jack of all trades rather than being a specialist lawyer. I think that’s probably a good thing in terms of the job here. I have worked in a political environment. But I worked in local authorities and I think that will stand me in good stead. And I think the range of stuff that I dealt with in the Audit Commission will stand me in good stead, too. The rest of it is a very steep learning curve.
SB: How do you think this compares to some of the other positions which you have had?
ML: I think it probably is a bit more scary but I think this position just has so much more potential in the width and scope of the work. It’s bigger than any other job that I have done before and I think it’s part of being in the role so I am looking forward to it. I am just pleased to be here. My family are down for the next two weeks so I am really enjoying showing them what I regard as ‘my Islands.’ It’s good so far.
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