CATEGORY:LEGAL MATTERS
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By Trevor Thwaites (Inside Grenada correspondent)


ST.GEORGE, Grenada - The Grenada Bar Association is calling for improved facilities in the local jurisdiction. The Courts, which were damaged by Hurricane Ivan, have not been brought back to their pre-Ivan status, which according to the President of the Grenada Bar Association, Ruggles Ferguson, is causing serious problems. Ferguson is concerned about the backlog of civil and criminal matters destined for the No. 1 High Court, especially when the Assizes are held in October.

He said that the hearing of the Assizes will affect the civil matters in the court during the period. Ferguson indicated that there is urgent need for a third judge to help expedite the work load. However, he pointed that in order to bring in another judge, urgent refurbishment of the facility needs to be done. “As you can see, the number one High Court remains the same after Hurricane Ivan.” But the Bar Chief is confident that with the pooling of resources between the various stakeholders, the problem could be a thing of the past.

Ferguson said that the Bar Association is also very concerned about the inadequate facilities when the Master who visits once from a neighbouring country is here. He said that the poor facilities have been drawing numerous complaints from both lawyers and members of the public. “Lawyers and members of the public literally have to wait in the garage of the court for hours to await their matters. We feel that with very little effort, some organization and proper planning, the matter can be urgently corrected.”


The Master is a Judge is Chambers, who is not based here, but travels throughout the various jurisdictions to deal with what is called ‘case management’- when in a civil matter for example a claim is filed and a defense is put up by the other side. The role of the Master will be to identify the things that are needed to be done between the Court Management and the trial, so that the matter reaches the court and all the preliminary matters will be dealt with. “The Master performs a critical role in the process. For one to have confidence and respect in the system, basic things like accommodation must be addressed”, Ferguson said.
The Bar Association President welcomed the moves by the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court to Create separate divisions within the Court system, as announced by Acting Chief Justice Brian Alleyne in his report for the Law year 2006/7, that was beamed live last week Wednesday to all nine jurisdictions of the Court from Anguilla. Ferguson applauded the idea because he said that there is need for a criminal division, a family division and a commercial division, all of which have been lacking from an administrative level.

He said that with such a structure, they will be in a better position to supervise the activities taking place in the various areas. The Acting Chief Justice also spoke about moves to make technology an integral part of the system. “The proceeding here is a reflection of that kind of technology, because we heard the Chief Justice from addressing us from Anguilla.” A contingent of the Bar Association and the media followed the address from the St George’s NO: 1 High Court.