National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore announces three new Magistrates will soon be appointed

National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore announces three new Magistrates will soon be appointed. He hopes this will help speed up the justice system in Dominica.
 
The three magistrates are, former Dominica Chief Magistrate, Gail Royer; former Antigua Senior Magistrate, Asquith Riviere; and former Deputy Police Commissioner, Hansel Valmond, who will be appointed as a Lay Magistrate.
 
Blackmore stated on Friday, “In continuing in its efforts and in response to calls from the business sector for court matters to be dealt with more quickly, and to facilitate family and juvenile matters at the court, especially in the absence of a family court”
 
He added that by way of demonstrating government’s commitment to the protection of the environment, a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday May 3rd 2016, approved the following measures geared at improving the dispensation of justice in Dominica: appointment of two qualified magistrates on contract and one of those magistrates will deal specifically with civil matters”.
 
He advised that the Lay Magistrate will be appointed on contract to deal with matters such as uncontested traffic issues, offenses under the Litter Act, rent and liquor licences and issues dealing with the environment.
 
Additionally, Blackmoore said, an existing qualified Magistrate will be deployed to deal specifically with juvenile and family matters. Two clerical staff will also be appointed, and a position of Court Administrator will be created. He said these improvements will cost about $300,000 annually, in addition to the cost of putting the systems in place.