Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) embraces change to reduce court backlog

Published in the Jamaica Gleaner: Wednesday | August 1, 2007

Committing itself to a 10-year justice reform programme proposed by the Jamaica Justice Reform Task Force, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) says it plans to move swiftly, if elected to form the next government, to remove the more than 400,000 backlog of cases now before the courts.

In its 2007 manifesto released on Monday, the JLP pledged to use technology to speed up the disposal of cases in the courts, and to introduce a two-shift system to eliminate the case backlog.

The justice component of the manifesto, which has as its theme: "Healing our ailing justice system", has also proposed the establishment of special courts to deal with cases involving domestic violence, as well as increasing the number of Resident Magistrates (RMs) and prosecutors to assist in cutting the huge pile up of cases in the RM courts.

Modernise court houses

A JLP-led government says it will modernise and rehabilitate court houses in five years and provide better facilities for witnesses to attend court.

The expansion of the Witness Protection Programme and increasing the number of shelters for victims of domestic violence, especially women and children, are also included in the party's manifesto.

In terms of the judiciary, the JLP says it will increase the number of judges of the Appeal Court from seven to 11 and appoint more judges of the Supreme Court.

The manifesto also speaks to constitutional protection and security of tenure for RMs. It is proposed to amend the Constitution to recognise RMs as part of the judiciary.