Judges to tackle backlog
published: Thursday | January 8, 2004

By Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter

THE HILARY session of the Home Circuit Court opened yesterday with Justice Donald McIntosh assuring the nation that the huge backlog of cases would be reduced significantly this year.

"This is a year in which the Chief Justice and the judges have set themselves the target of reducing drastically the backlog of cases so next year we will not be hearing about a 100 backlog of cases or a mere reduction," the judge said.

He was referring to the fact that for several years more than 100 cases are usually traversed from one term to the next, despite the good intentions of the judges to clear cases.

"I am saying categorically that it is the expectation of the judiciary that something drastic will be done about getting rid of the backlog during the year," said Justice McIntosh.

MANY ADVERSITIES

He said in the past the judiciary has been faced with "adversities" such as the state of the nation, the state of the courts, the Police Force and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

David Fraser, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, informed the court that there were 163 cases listed for trial during this Hilary term, 141 of which were traversed from the Michaelmas session.

The list consists of 89 murder cases and 36 sexual offence cases. Some 52 cases were disposed of during the Michaelmas term.

DELIVERING A HIGH STANDARDS

Mr. Fraser said that despite the constraints under which they worked with less than adequate staff at the Office of the DPP, the prosecutors would try to deliver a high standard of justice for all.

On behalf of the private Bar, K. Churchill Neita, Q.C., pledged support to see that justice was dispensed "fairly and fearlessly". The new session was marked with a colourful ceremony in front of the courthouse, King Street, downtown Kingston.

Justice McIntosh inspected a Police Guard of Honour and was accompanied by the Rev. Carmen Stewart, Custos of St. Andrew, the Rev. Canon Weeville Gordon, Custos of Kingston, Vashti Chatoor, Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court, and police officers.