Latest update November 21st, 2024 1:00 AM
Govt mulls ways to reduce court backlogs, prison overcrowding
Addressing judicial backlog and overcrowding at the Georgetown Prisons is high on the agenda for the Executive and Judicial arms of Government.
Members of the judiciary and executive arms of Government at the meeting.
This disclosure was made by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, on Wednesday, following a meeting with key stakeholders from both arms of the government.
The meeting was convened at the Court of Appeal, Kingston, Georgetown, at the behest of President David Granger.
The Executive team led by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo included Vice President and Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan, Minister of State Joseph Harmon and Attorney General Basil Williams. Representatives of the judiciary included Chancellor (Ag) Justice Carl Singh, Chief Justice (Ag) Yonette Cummings- Edwards, Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan and Director of Public Prosecutions, (DPP) Shalimar Ali Hack.
According to Prime Minister Nagamootoo, the initial discussions were aimed at dealing with persons on remand, accelerating trials and methods of conducting court hearings in a manner which will clear the congestion in the prison. Nagamootoo said that based on the preliminary consultations the judiciary is fully on board with the efforts to alleviate overcrowding in the prisons.
This view was also expressed by Justice Carl Singh. He noted that members of the judiciary particularly at the level of the Magistracy can have significant impact on the manner in which cases are managed and disposed towards easing the prison congestion.
The Chancellor said that the teams will host consultations for the next two weeks towards finding solutions which assist in ending the backlog. According to him following the talks it is likely that measures to improve the system will be implemented.
The consultations come in wake of a deadly prison riot which claimed the lives of 17 inmates earlier this month. The prisoners were killed even as eight others were injured after being trapped in a raging fire in the notorious Capital ‘A’ Block of the Camp Street Prison. The fire is believed to have been started by prisoners who were venting their frustration at what they felt was the inordinate length of time they were on remand while awaiting trial.
Following the three-day riot the government embarked on a Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the prisons as well as made promises to improve food, speed up trials and increase the number of telephone calls prisoners are allowed to families.
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