Flanked by Supreme Court Justices regaled in their official garb, Sir Burton insisted that any new court building is years away.
His comments came not long after Attorney General Alfred Sears announced that a site has been identified for the construction of a new judicial complex and ground breaking will “hopefully” occur by the end of the government’s fiscal year in June.
Sir Burton pointed out that the Supreme Court complex might prove to be an embarrassment, with a major commercial trial to begin on Monday.
He said that trial will include a large number of lawyers, including five from the English Commercial Bar, and is set to last about three months. He said The Bahamas, which boasts of being a leading financial centre, is expected to offer accommodations for such trials.
“(We) must make do with a courtroom which overlooks the busiest part of Bank Lane, the exchange point for persons in custody who have to be moved from the various courts and so must compete with the high level of ambient noise with the judge working out of cramped chambers in a poorly maintained building which should make any Bahamian embarrassed as we try to project an image to the world of competence and professionalism,” Sir Burton said.
But according to Minister Sears, the process for the financing of the construction of a judicial complex is “actively” being pursued, both locally and internationally.
However, Sir Burton did not appear convinced.
He said the necessity to rent suitable accommodations is “painfully patent.”
“The Director of Court Services, sometimes with the Chief Justice in tow, has to devote too much time identifying and viewing suitable premises and putting forward proposals, the fate of which is void of activity,” Sir Burton said.
He added, “I need only invite interested persons to look at the facilities out of which we are expected to serve the public. You would not of course be misled by the cosmetics such as the recently applied paint.”
Also lambasting the physical condition of the court, President of the Bar Association Wayne Munroe noted that it is often described as “deplorable.”
“The magistrates have to act in premises where they get visits from rodents, where they do not have computer equipment, where their staff do not have equipment,” Mr. Munroe said. “From where we sit, this matter is not something that requires any discussion or debate.”
Mr. Munroe added that the association will also keep a keen eye on whether the judiciary will continue to operate without sufficient libraries and whether consideration will be given to an increase in the number of registrars.
“There is no way that the work of your Lordships can increase and the number of registrars remain the same and the system remains sufficient,” Mr. Munroe pointed out.
Mr. Munroe added that if the government hopes to compete with the private bar for judicial personnel, it must be realistic about pay and benefits.
“My Lord, we will watch and see if a groundbreaking is actually followed by a construction,” Mr. Munroe said, followed by an outburst of laughter.
Clarifying that he was not being malicious or mischievous, Mr. Munroe referred to another court in the region, which had a groundbreaking, but has not yet been followed by any immediate sittings.
“We will watch My Lord because quite shortly we will lose patience,” he said. “We will lose patience for operating in such substandard settings because the public ought to know that where your Lordships sit and where Magistrates sit, we must work.”
Mr. Munroe added, “We can assure the Attorney General, the executive and the legislature that if they do not act, we shall then act.”
But he said the association takes seriously promises made by the attorney general.
“We understand his limitations, but we make a promise that watching will end,” Mr. Munroe cautioned.
By Hadassah Hall, The Bahama Journal
