Dominica re-introduces night court

Minister for National Security Rayburn Blackmoore has announced that night court will be re-introduced in Dominica from September 8, 2025.

He made the announcement during a press conference held on Wednesday.

According to him, night court is scheduled from 2:00 PM until 9:00 PM.

“When one speaks to the issue of administration of justice, access to the court is also very important,” he said. “And I believe therefore the court should operate in a way that allows for greater flexibility and that will provide people seeking to access the court to actually settle grievances. Whether it is civil or criminal,  [they] ought to be able to be accommodated irrespective as to what type of work they do, where they actually reside.”

Blackmoore continued, “ And I believe fundamentally, the issue of introducing night court, and let me just put [it] on the record, for everybody to understand, it is not something that is new. We had night court before, that was tried before, and of course, you heard in one of the Prime Minister’s press conferences, specific references made to that. And again, at the last part of the presentation, a policy statement was made to the effect that (on the second week in February 2025), we will proceed into us commencing  night court.”

He further explained that his instruction  was to ensure that all the players were actually consulted and to ensure that, “we look at all the logistics that need to be considered and to move forward, and I believe that the time is now, there shall be night court…commencing on  the 8th of September.”

Moreover, Blackmoore told the Commissioner of Police that on the issue of service, he hopes that this is not going to be an excuse for night court not to operate.

“We have to be steadfast and to ensure that all the players with the respective roles to be played do so in the most efficient manner,” he urged. “Night court is working in other countries. We have the accommodation; we are working on an additional magistrate. There’s absolutely no reason.”

He added, “I even heard from some people who were officers at the court. They said during the daytime they are busy. If you’re busy, now you have later in the afternoon and into the night where you can attend to your clients’ business at the court.”

Chief Magistrate Candia Carrette- George said she is confident that the meetings being held with court officials and the police will continue as measures are being put in place.

“As we seek to prepare for night court, meetings have been held with magistrates, magistrates’ court staff,  the executive of the Dominica Bar Association, and the police,” she revealed. “ And I am confident  that those discussions will continue as we keep  putting measures in place.”

Carrette-George asserted that in order for night court to succeed, the police and the bailiff must be diligent and ensure that there is proper service for persons who are to attend court.

“On the clerical side, we are ensuring that cases are properly scheduled,” she noted.

She revealed that for the period of July 1, 2024, to  June 20, 2025, a total of 2,358 cases were filed, while 2,471 were disposed of, “so we see the backlog in that instance was reduced by 113 cases.”

“As more magistrates and new strategies are established, I am confident that we will make greater inroads into the existing backlog,” she noted.

Carrette-George indicated that the entire magistrate’s court staff will continue to do all in their power to ensure that they continue to realise a reduction in the backlog until the number becomes insignificant.

Meanwhile, Acting Chief of Police Lincoln Corbette said in keeping with the mandate of the Minister of National Security  to enhance the  efficiency,  access to the court, and also to reduce the backlog to the court, “the police force is committed to ensuring that all measures are in place, all security measures are in place to ensure that the court runs smoothly.”

He also added that there will be enhanced screening at the court, additional officers to provide security within the court, as well as a dedicated prosecutor.

“You would have heard the court will deal with civil and criminal matters, so in case of criminal matters, we must have prosecutors on hand,” Corbette explained. “ So we will support the court to ensure that all functions, when it deals with the police, are dealt with professionally.”