The Dominica Bar Association (DBA) wrote to the Minister of Justice Rayburn Blackmore about the situation and at a press conference he held along with the Registrar Ossie Walsh, Blackmore said the Civil Division of the High Court would have been operational in May 2018. But to date the criminal section is still closed and the civil division is yet to find a proper place for holding court sessions.
Mary Roberts, President of the DBA, has noted that the May deadline given for the court to reopen has passed. "We are now in June and the situation remains the same," she said. "We are frustrated since it is clear that the full functioning of the court is not a priority for the powers that be. It is critical to get the court fully functional. It's now a crisis situation". Roberts added: "As the Bar Association, we have written to the relevant authorities, we have staged a walk. We are fed up and the building, although covered, it is leaking. The time for doing something has come and gone; we are now nine months after Hurricane Maria…I am not at all surprised at what is going on, the building is not ready, and everyone is passing the buck." Attorney-at-law Chelsea Frampton, an executive member of the DBA, said the Chief Justice is aware of the situation. "Our next move is to write directly to her on the matter. She is the overall head and we need her intervention, we have a draft copy of a letter”. "There has been some disconnect, I am frustrated. You have to have law and order; you have people on remand. The Judge has tried her best working under trying circumstances, and I don't agree with the conditions under which she is working. Now I am hearing about the Halls of Justice again; they have a committee in place looking at the matter. I don't have a clue when court will resume fully. Lawyers are frustrated and have clients who are seeking legislation.
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Q95 NewsCurrent and past news stories. Archives
April 2024
Categories |