Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, Her Ladyship Dame Janice Pereira has raised concerns that one year after Hurricane Maria court facilities in Dominica have not been restored to normal operations.
She was speaking during the opening of the New Law Year on Tuesday via a simulcast from St. Kitts.
Hurricane Maria devastated Dominica on 18th September, 2017 and one year on the island is still struggling to return to some sense of normalcy.
The Courts infrastructure was severely damaged with judges and court staff rendered homeless.
“Sadly one year on, court facilities have not been restored to normal operations,” Pereira said.
She pointed out that there was a heavy reliance on paper records in Dominica and many of them have been reported lost or destroyed by the hurricane.
According to Pereira these factors coupled with a lack of operation facilities make recovery slow.
“Some hearings have been facilitated in makeshift facilities while repair works are ongoing,” she noted.
She went on to say that the hearing of appeals from Dominica was also facilitated by the Court sitting in St Lucia.
“It is our hope that all efforts will be made to enable the courts to return to full operations,” Pereira stated.
She indicated that the Court Headquarters have been doing all in its power to make this happen and has reached out to donor agencies for assistance in replacing the destroyed court equipment necessary for returning the court to a state of operational efficiency.
At a press conference held on April 12, 2018, Minister of Justice Rayburn Blackmoore, along with Registrar Ossie Walsh said that work was at an advanced stage to ensure that the court system returns to normal.
“The court has come a long way as compared to the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Maria,” Walsh stated. “We did have problems but we have gone a long way despite the many challenges. Much of the work in the civil court is 99% complete and that will take place downstairs in the main building and Justice Bernie Stephenson is pleased with the work done.”
“She pointed out that there was a heavy reliance on paper records in Dominica and many of them have been reported lost or destroyed by the hurricane. ”
So, here we have it; Roosevelt continuously boast that Dominica leads the way, first in in everything!
He told the nation that Dominicans are living much better than people in the United States; he claimed that Dominica is so rich that he loan millions to Antigua, St. Kitts and Nevis. All of which is a lie; nevertheless, in this day and age of computer technology, government business such as court documents are still conducted and stored on paper in Dominica!
Dominica which Roosevelt Skerrit that clown said the rest of the World will pattern as an example to develop their country, are not aware that computers are the technology of the day, where documentations such as court proceedings are stored on files along with a backup file stored in safety from destruction.
Are we the most progressive or most backward place?
“Hurricane Maria devastated Dominica on 18th September, 2017 and one year on the island is still struggling to return to some sense of normalcy.” ……come on Mr Registrar …stop the excuses …man it is what it is!…making the excuse alone is hindering progress
Labour working leave us alone
The court system in DA has not been working properly in the last 7-8 years ever since Skerrit started to influence it.
Her Ladyship Dame Janice Pereira with all due respect, you should stop speaking negatively of our beautiful homeland Dominica. We are happy with the state of normalcy currently experienced, CBI funds will take care of us. Thank you
Sounds like you still taking breast milk.
No wonder you have no name; if you are pretending sarcasm, it did not not work, you are another of Roosevelt puppets, singing praises for you supper, and the bread the devil Roosevelt Skerrit leaves.
If she came out and praise Roosevelt for a job well done knowing it to be a lie, you would enjoy her comments. At least I know she still has some amount of integrity in her, and she is not singing praises to that liar Roosevelt to keep her job!
Dominica is messed up, but idiots like you heads are buried so deed in Roosevelt feces the only thing that keep you all alive is the smell of it all!