The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

PRIME Minister Perry Christie yesterday held firm on his commitment to open ten new criminal courts despite warnings from the judiciary that the government does not have jurisdiction over the deployment of judicial resources.

Last week, Chief Justice Sir Michael Barnett warned the government of the potential “dictatorial impression” it created in announcing a plan to have ten criminal courts run simultaneously in 2014.

In response, Mr Christie said: “The Chief Justice knows that I am a democrat, he knows that there is not a dictatorial bone in my body, but he also knows that I am not going to compromise on what I can do for the Bahamian people.

“I told the AG even if I have to amend the rules of jury selection to bring jurors from the islands, we are not going to compromise, not going to have these people who are charged with murder, that they put on bail because of the failure of the state to try them within what the courts deem to be a reasonable period of time. You can take that to the bank, I’m not going to compromise on that.”

During the official opening of the legal year, Sir Michael reminded the executive that the deployment of judicial resources “exclusively” rests with himself and the judiciary.

“The executive branch of government has indicated that facilities will be provided that will enable up to ten courts to preside over criminal matters at any one time,” the Chief Justice said.

“This is laudable and welcomed, having regard to what I have already mentioned about matters being scheduled into 2015 and 2016. The actual deployment of judicial resources is of course a matter exclusively within the province of the Chief Justice and the judiciary.

“I urge members of the executive that in their language they must not appear to be dictating to the courts how they ought to be run.”

In an interview with The Tribune, Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson shrugged off the judiciary’s reaction.

Mrs Maynard-Gibson said she did not think that Chief Justice Sir Michael Barnett’s comments during the Legal Year opening ceremony were cautionary, adding that there is harmony between the two branches of governance.

“I wish to assure the Bahamian public of my confidence that the executive and the judiciary are of the same accord, that criminals should be swiftly brought to justice,” Mrs Maynard-Gibson said.

Last summer, Prime Minister Perry Christie said the government will look to initiate measures to increase the number of criminal trials being heard at any one time.

In October, during a press conference following the sentencing of child killer Kofhe Goodman, the Attorney General said this would happen as soon as “January next year.”

During her contribution to the Legal Year ceremony, Mrs Maynard-Gibson acknowledged that the judiciary had leave to accept government’s proposal that up to ten criminal courts should run concurrently.

March 3 is the date when “the temporary courts are expected to commence operation,” she said.