Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 03, 2015 (SKNIS): Preparations are in place to add a new High Court in St. Kitts and Nevis in order to decrease the backlog of cases and ensure justice is delivered more effectively and expeditiously.
The Honourable Vincent Byron, Attorney General, revealed such during his second appearance on the Government’s weekly television and radio programme “Working for You” on Wednesday, December 02.
“We are making plans to put in place a second high court at the Sir Lee Llewellyn Moore Judicial Complex,” the attorney general stated. “We have had discussions with the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) because ultimately they are that arm of Government who are responsible for maintaining the court system.”
He pointed out that there are serious matters with regards to crime in St. Kitts and Nevis.
“At this point in time there is a lot of concern in our country over a spike in the whole question of homicide,” he said, while adding that although the general statics show that there is a decline in other types of crimes, violent crimes have been of great concern to the Government and the citizens. “We have to deal with that.”
The attorney general made mention of the justice system, in particular, the time in which cases are heard and stated that this is unacceptable.
“We have had over the last couple of years an increase in the number of matters that have not been heard at the assizes and people are languishing in jail for too long on remand,” he said. “If we are going to have a democratic society, a popular society in which we want to uphold the law, people have to have access to justice.”
He stated that people who are charged should have their cases determined as quickly as possible, as they are not guilty until proven so by a court of law. Importance was also placed on victims of crimes as the attorney general said that they too deserve justice as they are also part of the criminal justice system.
The attorney general said it was a recommendation for the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis to put certain support systems such as a courtroom, support staff, secretaries, and bailiffs in place. He said once they are able to provide such the St. Kitts circuit hopefully can have a second judge early in 2016.
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