Registrar of the Dominica High Court, Ossie Walsh, says barring unforeseen circumstances, the high court criminal session is set to open this week at the High Court in Roseau.
He made his comments at a press conference last week held by the Ministry of Justice Immigration & Labour.
“We were faced with tremendous challenges and I can report that most of them have been overcome. I had a look at the criminal court and the ecstatic beauty has been improved from the lighting and we should have the court by next week when the carpenter finishes. The Judges office is complete along with furniture and the court is 98% ready,” Walsh said.
He told the media that Justice Victoria Charles-Clarke who heads the criminal division of the high court had taken a tour for the building and was happy with the progress made and the state of the building. “I am happy about everything…Justice Charles-Clarke has already taken a look at the court we need a few things but we can start with our orientation of jury and arraignment of accused people as planned for next week,” he stated.
He continued, “The housing for the judge (Justice Charles-Clarke) has been identified. We had challenges in finding a proper and suitable location…the PM has gotten involved and all is set for her to move from Fort Young Hotel to her residence. Justice Stephenson who heads the civil division of the court has already gotten her house in order. The Maters Court is taking place and we are all set.”
Walsh also stated that the Barracoon Building where the civil court was housed before Hurricane Maria will be renovated for the use of the court.
“The costings have been done and presented and we expect very soon…work will commence on the building and we are happy for that,” he stated. He also stated that the Law library will also soon be back in operations and they are also waiting to clear 18 cartoons of books at the port to put at the Law Library.
Meantime, Magistrate Asquith Riviere, who was sitting in for Chief Magistrate, Candia Carette-George, who is on leave, said while they lost two magistrates in 2018 in the persons of Gail Royer and Ally Gail, they have since added two persons to the fleet.
“Michael Bruney is with us and also Michael Laduat has joined the magistracy…and His Honour Bernard Pacquette has been reassigned to District “G” Portsmouth. So, we are doing all we can to deal with all the cases that come before us,” Riviere stated.
Aussie was Young Freedom Movement leader . You have now sold out to DLP under the big move that Charles saverin set up.
Skerro was also YFM.
Rayburn was YFM.
St. Jean was a big Freedom man
Lauren Bannis a big Fredom lady
Charles in Point michelle a big freedom lady
Lady in Colihaut
Vince and Martin Charles in St. Joe big YFM memebrs.
So technically is Freedom that running Dominica today.
I am calling on all of you to come back home and keep the DFP pledge for the benefit of Dominica and our children.
All the ministers houses were repaired within 5 months of the hurricane. All their girlfriends houses were fix soon after. So it is clear that these guys are securing what’s in ther pants rather than what is important in Dominica. They don’t care about democracy and the rule of law, becaue these are the very institutions that will curtail their bad actions. Shame on DLP and Skerro .
Dominicans should take a page from the yellow vests in Paris and the Haitian people, we should develop more passion for the things that affect our everyday life, and when these instituions are being threatened we should go out in numbers for many weeks if needs be to express our displeasure for the way things are being run in Da.
You are forgetting that Dominicans can no longer go out to express their displeasure about anything…they will be gassed like flies.
Ossie needs to retire and go run his women as usual. It makes no sense to open the High Court. Too many criminals are walking out of that court “Scott Free.”
The High Court or any court of law is indispensable for the seamless governance of any sovereign country. Law and order should be the top priority of any government. For almost 1¹/2 years after Maria, the judicial system is still not fully functional, only exposes the outrageous ineffectiveness and incapability of the Skerrit-led DLP kleptocracy. This sad situation of the judiciary is endemic throughout the entire civil service of Dominica. One more 5 year term of the DLP in government will reduce the country to nothingness. Show Skerrit and his servile apostles the EXIT door with your votes.
Where is that much touted “Halls of Justice” building on High St. that we’ve been hearing about since the days when Richard Sean Douglas was the mouth piece of the government?
The Grotto Home was almost evicted to “make way”.
20 Years ( FOUR TERMS ) wasted.
TIME TO MOVE ON!
What has ever happened to the proposed construction of the Hall of Justice since the purchase of the land to locate it?
That was a vote catching scheme.
OMG only in Dominica! 15 month after the hurricane and they still run on emergency mode. Dominica is not a third world country anymore but a fourth world country. Skerrit and his goons are really doing well, aren’t they??