Discussions on backlog of cases and long waits for trials begins

Issues regarding the backlog of court cases and other matters facing the country’s Judiciary are finally being addressed, following the death of 17 inmates at the Camp Street Prison.

On Wednesday (March 16) Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo headed a team to meet with the Judicial arm of Government which was led by the Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh at the Court of Appeal.

According to the Prime Minister, the meeting is in keeping with a request by President David Granger and “most of which would surround the recent prison riot and consequential actions to be taken with regards to that…and to deal with wider issues of the judicial system to be granted.”

Justice Carl Singh believes the engagement will identify the ways in which the “Courts impact upon the situation and circumstances at the prison and how prison operations and prison life could be affected by what we do in the Courts.”

He also said his team will seize “the opportunity to identify issues that touch upon those matters and to see if they are problematic and how we can resolve it.”

The Government team included Minister of State, Joe Harmon along with Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and Attorney General Basil Williams.

Director of Public Prosecutions Shalimar Ali Hack, Acting Chief Justice Yonnette Cummings Edwards, and Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan were also in attendance at the meeting.