The Antigua and Barbuda government will introduce a series of measures in the new year designed to speed up the delivery of justice within the country’s justice system.
The announcement was made by the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Sir Steadroy Benjamin, last Thursday night as he delivered the welcome remarks at a lecture delivered by Deputy Director of Public prosecution, Shannon Jones-Gitten, that addressed the topic of backlogs within the justice system.
“Tonight, also gives us the opportunity to make clear that this government, my government will not remain idle in the face of inefficiencies that impede justice. We have identified several decisive steps, including firm, targeted reforms, which we are preparing to advance as part of the government’s justice sector modernization agenda in 2026,” he revealed.
The Attorney General identified one of the steps as the introduction of the Voluntary Bill of Indictment Act. “This is a modern legislative tool already gaining traction across our Caribbean. This mechanism directly confronts procedural delays by empowering the DPP to advance appropriate matters straight to the High Court, bypassing outdated processes that too often obstruct justice. This reform is designed to bring greater speed, certainty, and protection to vulnerable witnesses while ensuring that complex criminal matters move with the urgency they deserve,” he explained.
Two other reform measures include the introduction of Plea-Bargaining legislation that will allow an accused to change his/her plea from ‘not guilty’ to ‘guilty’ with the expectation of a reduced sentence, and secondly, the establishment of a Public Defenders Department which will comprise of attorneys to defend accused persons at the Magistrates Court, High Court and the Appeal Court.
According to the AG, the government is also giving consideration to the appointment of a dedicated Criminal Master of Antigua and Barbuda. “This specialised judicial officer would serve as a critical engine of efficiency, tackling the procedural bottlenecks – bail applications, disclosure compliance and case-readiness hearings – these often delay the movement of cases to trial,” Sir Steadroy further explained.
Additionally, Sir Steadroy indicated that over time one or two acting magistrates will be appointed who will be deployed specifically to assist with clearing whatever backlog, which may exist within the magistrate’s court.
