Capacity building in the courts

Mr Speaker, this Parliament provided a judicial establishment for 12 Court of Appeal judges plus the president, 40 Supreme Court judges plus the chief justice, and a senior puisne judge, eight masters in chambers and 70 Parish Court judges.

Yet, Mr Speaker, there are vacancies for six Court of Appeal judges, nine Supreme Court judges, four masters in chambers, and 12 Parish Court judges, which really should be filled as soon as possible.

There are simply too many outstanding cases and too much work in the court system for these vacancies to remain unfilled. Hopefully, they will all be filled promptly. Certainly, by September, the vacancies in the Court of Appeal will be able to be addressed with provision of the new and expanded court facilities for that court.

Mr Speaker, the MOJ is prepared to adjust the plans that have already been prepared for the budget to accommodate any change in priorities indicated by the chief justice, given that he was not chief justice at the time of the budget preparation exercise.

The ministry will continue to provide the support as he seeks to introduce technological and other solutions to the problems in the justice system. We hope and expect that, within the next three to five years, a paperless court system will emerge.

Mr Speaker, it is simply outrageous that our citizens seek justice, and when they access it in the courts, their matters are delayed for years, which means that justice is being denied, especially when it is inordinately delayed.

Mr Speaker, court cases are now being set for trial in 2022. That is totally undesirable. This inordinate and prolonged delay in trying cases must be addressed.