–to tackle case backlog

GOVERNMENT has given “favourable assurances” towards the proposed establishment of night courts.

This is according to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who recently updated Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh, on the process.

According to a release from the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Prime Minister Nagamootoo informed the Chancellor in a letter that he had briefed President David Granger on the proposal for the night courts, and had received “favourable assurances”.

The Prime Minister also reportedly had discussions with Finance Minister Winston Jordan regarding funding, and favourable assurances were similarly forthcoming.

The Prime Minister has requested that the Chancellor supplies details regarding a budget for the night courts, along with the logistical arrangements to operationalise the sittings to deal with the remand issue, which has contributed to the congestion in prisons.

Night courts have been proposed to expedite the backlog of cases which have resulted in several persons being held on remand, thereby overcrowding the prisons. A growing number of persons have, for several years, been held on remand awaiting trial, some for more than five years.

The OPM release detailed that on March 16, the Prime Minister led a Government team to a meeting to discuss the backlog of court cases with a team from the Judiciary, headed by Chancellor Singh.

The Prime Minister described the meeting as “very successful”, adding that there were “wide-ranging discussions aimed at trying to get trials speedily held, “to clear the congestion in the prisons”.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, were part of the Government team.

On the Chancellor’s team were Chief Justice Yonnette Cummings-Edwards; Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali-Hack; and Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

In the Sunday Chronicle of 10th instant, the Supreme Court advertised positions for qualified persons who, besides being legally qualified and possessing application guidelines, must not be over 50 years of age. They are needed to fill positions as Temporary Magistrates in the local magistracy.

The advertisement details that employment will be for a period not exceeding six months, but this may be extended at the discretion of the Judicial Service Commission.

(Alva Solomon)