This statement came amidst the ceremonial grandeur traditionally ushering in the Supreme Court’s new legal year.
“Today, I could say little has changed during 2003 and bring these proceedings to a close,” announced the chief justice, his frustration over an “insufficiency of resources” obviously exacerbated by a freshly-painted but still “disarranged” chamber.
“The insufficiency of resources in these areas of personnel and premises to serve the needs for legal services in a rapidly developing society to which I have referred on those occasions, has resulted in our achievement being limited to holding on to our present state without regressing,” he continued.
Importance of judiciary
Chief Justice Hall also criticised “The agencies responsible for presenting a presentable face to public buildings” who “chose to wait until late last week to begin the exterior painting of this building.”
An obviously annoyed CJ continued, “Last evening (Tuesday) the staff of the registry, including my office, insured that this room was arranged for today’s ceremony, only to come in this morning to find that everything has been disarranged in order for the painters to complete the painting, that you would have noticed as soon as you entered this room.”
The judiciary was an important function of government, he said, and “Therefore, I will continue to plead, persuade, complain and even annoy those whose responsibility it is to provide the resources that the judiciary manages in order that the office of the judiciary is enabled to provide the services that the 21st century Bahamian is entitled to expect.”
Chief Justice Hall then provided a comprehensive overview of the functions and responsibilities of the court system.
Church service
Members of the judicature also attended a service at Christ Church Cathedral where they were admonished by Dean Patrick L Adderley, to be the “salt and light” of their profession.
The community into which God called his people, he said, was not founded on “selfishness, greed, or on the belief that might is right, but into a community of service, love, gentleness, and peace.”
The Dean continued: “It is against this background that those who uphold law and order and who dispense justice have to work.
“Those who are engaged in the practice of law must hold themselves to the highest standards. Give no cause to impugn your integrity. Be a beacon of light and hope in a dark work,” he admonished.
“Let there be ready and timely access to the courts and to the dispensing of justice,” he encouraged.
Natural justice
Dean Adderley also appealed for “a more considerate approach to sentencing and punishment, more concern and voice for the victims of crime, and more alternatives and corrective measures for young offenders.”
He prayed that God would grant the legal practitioners the “wisdom to make wise judgments, courage to do always what is right and good and compassion to defend the rights of the weak, the poor and oppressed, the humility to see yourselves as servants and instruments of the Only Great and Wise Judge, and the grace to carry out faithfully the great work entrusted to you.”
Following the church service, the group, including judges, magistrates and lawyers proceeded to Bank Lane where the guard of the Royal Bahamas Police Force band was inspected.
The band’s performance was well received by an assembled crowd of onlookers.
By Jimenita Swain, The Nassau Guardian
