The Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions, Shannon Jones-Gitten, delivered a well-researched and a very well presented lecture on the root causes of backlogs within the court systems of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court system.
The lecture is the third in a series of lectures organized by the ECSC and the first to be held in Antigua and Barbuda.
Jones-Gitten noted that backlogs within court systems are not confined to countries such as Antigua and Barbuda but are part of the challenges faced by court systems the world over.
Within the ECSC system, she presented statistics that showed that the situation here in Antigua and Barbuda is better than in several other jurisdictions.
Jones-Gitten highlighted a lack of resources as perhaps the key reason for backlog in cases in Antigua and Barbuda. These range from inadequate financial resources to shortages of staff in key areas such as the police, the office of the DPP and the shortage of defence attorneys to handle the number of cases within the system.
Despite the challenges, she said there are reasons for persons to be optimistic. For example, she noted that COVID-19 forced the court to move to adopt technologies at a rate faster than it perhaps would have otherwise.
According to the Deputy DPP, there is need for an efficient court system as the maim states; justice delayed is justice denied.
“An efficient criminal justice system is critical in any civilized society. Delayed trials harbour a great risk of ensuing injustice – not just for accused persons who are guaranteed a fair trial within a reasonable time by our Constitutions but the victims of crime who desire to be restored or recompensed for the harm done to them or their loved ones,” she observed.
She noted too that when matters span years from commission to trial, there is a risk that include diminished quality of evidence as memories fade, exhibits deteriorate or are damaged or stolen among a hosts of other concerns.
Jones-Gitten credits the court in Antigua and Barbuda for being proactive in addressing some of the issues at the heart of the backlog issue. “Our court has maintained high standards and delivered sound judgments which offer guidance and are relied on beyond the jurisdictions it serves. It is therefore not surprising that challenges have been transformed into opportunities for change. Of course, there is room for further improvements – there always is,” she stated.
Attorney General, Sir Steadroy Benjamin gave an official welcome to Thursday’s lecture that was held in the High Court in t. John’s.
