Focus on clearing court backlog, chief justice tells stakeholders

Jermaine Francis, Staff Reporter

Chief Justice Zaila McCalla is insisting that stakeholders need to step up to the plate and do more to relieve the backlog in the nation's courts.

Speaking at a swearing-in ceremony for five judges yesterday, McCalla said the time has come for all agencies, including the judiciary and the justice ministry, to pursue, with greater urgency, ridding the system of 200,000 cases.

She said focus must now be placed on fully implementing criminal case management as strategy to alleviate the problem.

"Full implementation of criminal case management in our courts must be achieved and that is an initiative that will be pressed this year with even greater fervour," McCalla said.

She expressed that they have been working with the criminal case management committee, and there are initiatives being pursued, but everyone involved needs to now get on board.

"All stakeholders in the justice system, especially members of the private Bar, public Bar, the police, as well as forensic laboratory and others involved in the justice system, must be involved in this process, and they must be supportive of this initiative," she added.

McCalla noted that greater commitment to this initiative is needed, as more and more cases were entering the courts, adding to the already hefty backlog.

The chief justice also made a plea for the authorities to make more courtroom space available.

She said even though legislative provision has been made for additional judges, there is not sufficient space to accommodate them at this time.