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1600+ cases ‘clogging’ court system

Dale Marshall

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In June of 2018 soon after the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) regained the government Attorney General Dale Marshall was quoted as saying – “I don’t have to tell you the backlog in both the civil and criminal jurisdiction in the high court is huge,…50 criminal cases, some of which dated back to 2003, decisions had to be made as to whether some of the older ones would have to be abandoned by the Crown...But we will have to put a mechanism which would see different cases receiving different treatment. We are not going to be approaching it in a way that would say that old cases would be purged from the system because many of them would have victims who would feel that they have been wronged”.

Fast forward to 2025 what is Attorney General Dale Marshall saying? The CBC reported that Marshall while speaking at a Symposium on the backlog of cases shared that there are over 1600 matters awaiting trial in the High Court compared to 350 in 2011…many of these 1 606 cases are from between ten to twelve years ago and now have a large number of accused individuals bringing constitutional motions against the state arguing the delay has resulted in a breach of their fundamental rights. The more things change the worse it gets.

#balderdash

Attorney General Dale Marshall

There is sufficient evidence to conclude that like the PSV problem and an escalating crime situation, this government is clueless as to how to constructively address the problem of delayed justice by our courts.

Barbados Underground was established in 2007 with a heavy focus on highlighting problems plaguing our courts. Coincidentally, Dale Marshall was Attorney General between (2006-2008), Freundel Stuart had a short stint between (2008-2010) before his elevation to the office of Prime Minister, Adriel Brathwaite took over between (2010-2018) until the return of Marshall in 2018 until the present. He has been the longest serving Attorney General since 2007. It is instructive to note Prime Minister Mia Mottley served in the role between (2001 and 2006). Both Mottley and Marshall have had the greatest opportunity to influence the office of Attorney General and Legal Affairs in Barbados during the period 2001 and 2025.

The performance of the justice system has deteriorated since 2007 and the time has come to clean house. Marshall needs to do the honourable thing and respect time honoured Westminster tradition and step aside.

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51 responses to “1600+ cases ‘clogging’ court system”

  1. David Avatar
    David

    Case backlog up 5 fold

    SINCE 2011, the backlog in criminal cases in the High Court has increased almost fivefold, despite more judges being appointed.

    As such, says Attorney General Dale Marshall, Government is seriously looking at other measures, including reducing the police’s prosecutorial duties and forming a special prosecution service, to help cut down on the caseload.

    He made the suggestion yesterday while delivering the keynote address at the opening of the Barbados Police Service’s symposium titled Addressing The Backlogs And Delays In The Criminal Justice System at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, Two Mile Hill, St Michael.

    “There are 1 606 matters awaiting trial in the High Court. Interestingly enough, in 2011 the number was 350. If we had to measure police performance, they’ve done an amazing job . . . but that is just one side of the coin because a significant number of these matters are ten and 12 years old.

    “That creates another set of challenges because police officers who worked hard to investigate a matter in 2012 . . . now have the burden of recreating in your mind an entire investigation that you did 12 years ago. You have stopped being immersed in it and it has become a distant memory, so how do you convince a jury of your honesty and all the elements you have to present to them?” Marshall asked.

    To make matters worse, he said many of the accused have sued the State for breaching their fundamental rights and have succeeded. He stressed this type of situation does not inspire confidence in the justice Marshall says delays causing some accused to get damages system.

    “Because of the age of the cases, we now have a large number of accused persons bringing constitutional motions against the State, arguing that the inordinate delay has resulted in a breach of their fundamental rights. They have been winning and they’ve been getting damages.

    “As Attorney General my duty is to uphold the law, and whether it means rights of the accused or the rights of the upstanding citizen, it’s all the same to me. I would not stand here and suggest that we can deny a person basic constitutional fundamental rights because they are charged with murder or rape. Rights are rights,” he added.

    Marshall recalled that in 2011 when there were only 350 cases, there were two judges and four or five prosecutors. There are now eight criminal court judges and 16 prosecutors.

    He said discussions were being held about forming a Prosecution Service with specialised prosecutors.

    Another discussion

    “There is no doubt that the Police Service has produced a large number of prosecutors to complete that phase of the work, but the time has come when we have to start that discussion again. I am looking seriously at a new policy directive, one which will see prosecutions in the Magistrates’ Court coming away from the hands of the police and being dealt with by specialised prosecutors.

    “Fundamentally, the idea behind [the Prosecution Service] is that the investigator should not be responsible for the prosecution. The investigator’s only job should be to investigate, prepare the case file and hand it over to someone else,” he explained.

    “I hope that the Police Service is open to it. I am not making any decision because any decision of this sort has to come from Cabinet, but I think there are a number of factors we have to take into account which will propel us in that direction,” Marshall added.

    He said it was also necessary to invest in prosecutors and for officers to be better trained in new legislation such as the Bail Act.

    Commissioner of Police Richard Boyce, Deputy Commissioner Erwin Boyce and several other high-ranking officials also attended the symposium, as well as representatives of child and juvenile welfare agencies.

    The commissioner said police played a critical role in the legal proceedings, including ensuring documents and files were well prepared and presented.

    The three-day event is being supported by the Inter-American Development Bank, PACE Justice, United Nations Development Programme and the European Union.

    (TG)

  2. David Avatar
    David

    The irony!

    https://youtu.be/-oFE6bMW7WA

  3. William Skinner Avatar
    William Skinner

    When read carefully the failed AG is simply saying : It all happened before my time ! Once the distinguished PM was quoted as saying the vast amount of murderers happened prior to 2018.
    Nothing new here. The failed AG , conveniently forgets that he was AG before. Our distinguished PM forgets she has been in Parliament and a minister for donkey years.
    Running out of excuses…………..

  4. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ William
    “Running out of excuses…”
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    They ALWAYS knew that they only had a limited amount of time before their incompetence could no longer be concealed behind vague promises and the bullying of cowardly officials.

    The ‘Peter principle’ is never a secret to the ‘Peters’. They are just usually too ashamed to admit it… but some are just too dumb to even KNOW it…

    It is why so much of the lotta STEAL and HOPEless projects were so BLATANT.

    The idea is to get themselves ‘set’ before their window closes…

    The problem now, is that the whole house is about to close down shortly…

  5. Goeht Avatar
    Goeht

    It is counterintuitive, but it would appear that appointing more judges is not the way to decrease the backlog.

    It’s Bizarro world.

  6. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    @ Goeht,

    Barbados is a place where Bajan professionals are transmogrified to an inexplicable level of apathy and incompetence.

    The same Bajan who performs at a high level overseas becomes less than competent on returning home.

  7. David Avatar
    David

    Chief Justice Leslie Haynes was on the news begging for more money to fund the judiciary.

  8. Sargeant Avatar
    Sargeant

    One step forward, two steps back

    Didn’t the Gov’t to much fanfare hire magistrates to clear up the backlog? Now the new cases are creating more backlog!

    Sisyphus lives!

  9. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    June 2021.

    https://bb.usembassy.gov/u-s-embassy-launches-court-case-management-system-with-barbados-judiciary/

  10. John A Avatar
    John A

    Well Mr. AG before wunna spend big money on consultants and green paper and white paper, it pleases me to say that for free I hereby will now this 28th day of January 2025, offer you without prejudice my Law And Order Act chapter 1 2025.

    Now as we know at least 60% of these court cases are traffic offences, so we shall do like Trump and sign a paper making all of them that do not involve the death of a person, or any other form of 3rd party claim, subject to an immediate fine payable in 72 hours at any police station. These fines will be issued by The Police Force based on seriousness of offence and frequency of offence and failure to pay the fine in the specified time, will entitle you to a period of imprisonment to be specified by a senior police officer after reviewing the case. All district stations along with Central Police Station will be involved in the process. This will remove that load from the courts and also provide the force with a sizable cash injection, as these fines will be made payable to the Police Force and Judicial System and NOT THE CONSOLIDATED FUND. Right back log sort out over a 3 month period on to the future now.

    Effective April 1st all traffic offences will be deemed finable with the exception of those involving death and or third part claim for physical damage to body and limbs ( when I say 3rd party claim that is what I mean not you hitting me with 3rd party insurance LOL). There will also be a list published in all print media and online of those breaches of law deemed impoundable by the Police as well, such as but not limited to parking in Handicap spots or blocking pedestrian crossways. Persons involved in accidents along with anyone else stopped while driving by The Police, who do not have a valid license or insurance, will have their vehicle towed to the 10 acre fully fenced and secured impound yard in St Farlip, where it will remain until such time as the fine is paid. Once this is paid then valid insurance and licensing can be provided along with the original receipt for the fine, to the impound office at the facility. Oh I nearly forget, along with the fine you will pay the impound daily fees and the tow fees to the facility before your vehicle is released. Of course if AFTER paying these fees and charges you wish to object, feel free to get a lawyer and take we court. The case should get hear in 2035 and you may get another charge from the judge if you found guilty there too. Yet another cash cow whose revenue will go the the Police Force and Judicial System AND NOT THE CONSOLIDATED FUND.

    Finally any vehicle not claimed within 90 days may be auctioned off at the impound yard so as to cover the charges owed to the facility. The auction does not hold itself responsible to obtain market value either, simply the highest officially recorded bid on the day of the auction.

    Right solution there who got the testicular fortitude to implement it? Answer is NOT A FELLA. LOL

    We will however continue to wine for the next few years about the same issues though, which apparently is our God given and practiced right as Bajans!

  11. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    3 years ago.

    https://barbadostoday.bb/2021/12/10/judge-propose-sentence-ease-for-guilty-pleas-to-trim-backlog/

  12. David Avatar
    David

    @John A

    With lol the vehicles on our roads and traffic offenses on the increase surprise government has not taken an aggressive approach on the matter. Then again elaborate structures were built to capture offense via electronic tagging and what has become of it?

  13. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ David

    The key here is not only to get rid of the backlog but to make some money quickly for the judicial system. If an audit was ever done taking into account everyone’s time to prosecute a traffic offense, there is no way the fines levied by the state could begin to cover it.

    Long gone are those days globally, enforcement is now a money making business globally. A large portion of enforcement is even privatized with the tow trucks being operated privately. If they frighten for tiefing then privatize the impound yard and let the operator take a percentage of the revenue. My God man do something and stop talking!

  14. David Avatar
    David

    @John A

    The blogmaster suspects were the government to go the route you proposed a slew of legal challenges will blunt the attempt.

  15. Terence Blackett Avatar
    Terence Blackett

    THE WHOLE PRESCIENT ATMOSPHERE OF JURISPRUDENCE PROVE THE JACKASSERY OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM & THE SYSTEMIC CHRONIC BLOATING BY JURIS WHO MILK THE SYSTEM FOR THEIR OWN BENEFITS – SO EXCUSES REMAIN A DIME A DOZEN & THE SPINNING YARDS OF META YARN, SWALLOWED HOOK, LINE & SINKER BY THE MASSES IS WORST THAN CASTOR OIL ON A SUNDAY MORNING

    The word today is: #NayibBukele

    #LockUpTheBASTERDS*!!!

    #DueProcess will only be simplified when “CORRUPTION” is removed from those who make the laws & break ’em anytime they want!!!

    Like the “STINKING FACADE” of #PoLIEtics – the “BRAYING JACKASS OF THE LAW” is a sewer of venomous cretins who slither & shape-shift – contorting into whatever parasitic infestation that feeds their avarice & insatiation!!!

    BIM AIN’T NO DIFFERENCE TO BRITAIN – DIFFERENT NATIONS SAME SHYTE MACHINATIONS

    Here are the “STATS” 4: Cases in Magistrates’ Courts, Crown Courts, & Civil Courts

    Magistrates’ Courts – at the end of December 2023, there were 370,700 outstanding cases (MADNESS)

    The median waiting time from offense to completion of cases in 2023 was 182 days

    Crown Courts – at the end of December 2024, there were 67,600 outstanding cases (MORE MADNESS)

    The backlog has nearly doubled since March 2019 (JUST BEFORE THE PLANDEMIC* WHICH IS THE ONGOING EXCUSE)!!!

    Some trials are now being listed for 2027 – NO WONDER THE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ON A STABBING & SHOOTING SPREE BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE PRISONS ARE OVERCROWDED & JUSTICE IS A BLINDMAN WALKING OVER A CLIFF!!!

    Civil Courts – waiting times for almost all types of civil cases were longer in 2023 than five years previously as stats are still in #DodgeZone!!!

    WHAT CANNOT BE OVERLOOKED AS THIS IS THE HOT TOPIC TODAY

    #IllegalImmigration:

    The average time it takes for the 1st-Tier Tribunal to decide an “ASYLUM CASE” was 42 weeks in the period July to Sept 2024, up from 39 weeks for January to March 2024 – while sections of the “BRITISH PUBLIC” are calling for “MASS DEPORTATION” following Trump’s current move in the US!!!

    LET’S FACE IT FOLKS – EVERYTHING IS GOING 2 HELL IN A PANCART & I CAN’T SAY IT ENOUGH

    #FinalCaseInPoint – “EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE & OTHER FACTORS WITH ITS VAINGLORIOUS CITATIONS THAT STILL RAISES IT UGLY HEAD IN 2025…”

    #WhatAWorld
    #WhatMadness

  16. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    Court System Grade F FAIL

    Court cases have a lot of small petty hearings such as 5 minutes for Directions for everyone to go to Court just to come back another day usually several months later

    Small office buildings could be used to handle minor cases and red tape

    Lawyers are renown for stretching out cases racking up extortionate fees with imaginative nonsense

    Time for another one of those White Paper Commissions for Changes

  17. Miller Avatar
    Miller

    @ David January 28, 2025 at 3:02 pm

    (Quote).
    @John A
    The blogmaster suspects were the government to go the route you proposed a slew of legal challenges will blunt the attempt.
    (Unquote).
    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    For a very long time the highly intelligent ‘pragmatic’ John A has been recommending this ‘practical’ solution as a means of reducing the level of mayhem that can be witnessed daily on the roads of Barbados.

    How can a Lilliputian country like Barbados continue to put up with this type of indiscipline and lawlessness on its roads?

    How can the Lilliputian country called Barbados continue to punch way below its weight when it comes to vehicular law enforcement on its roads?

    Why not view John A’s proposal (which can be mimicked from many ‘enlightened’ jurisdictions like Bermuda) as another front to fight crime especially that involving the daily shootings and robberies?

    Do you really think that the Bajan criminals drive around with their unlicensed high-powered weapons in properly insured and duly registered (easily traceable) vehicles?

    The country needs to remove the many uninsured vehicles with defective registration status (estimated to be in the tens of thousands) from its roads if only for health and safety reasons.

    But we all know John A’s recommendation will fall on deaf ears.

    For it will require not only the enforcement of laws and regulations already on the Statute Book but also a loss of revenue currently collected at the PUMP in the form of Road TAXES now collected upfront obviating the need of the MoF to instruct the CoP and Chief Licensing Officer to go out and collect what has been budgeted for the financial year in the form of Road Taxes and other Fines from traffic violations.

    Things will only change when two Caucasian visitors to the Island are ‘slaughtered’ on the roads of Barbados and the Government is faced with a massive financial liability on its hands.

  18. David Avatar
    David

    @Miller

    The evidence is there that our authorities have little appetite to impose unpopular policies.

    #Givedemthevotesandwatchthem

  19. David Avatar
    David

    CJ: Shift focus to judiciary

    THE JUDICIARY has been overlooked in the years, says Chief Justice Leslie Haynes, including its contributions to Barbados’ gross domestic product (GDP).

    Delivering the keynote address yesterday on Day 2 of a three-day Barbados Police Service symposium entitled Addressing Backlogs And Delays In Barbados’ Criminal Justice System at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre, he said funding was a major deficit the judiciary faced.

    “Courts cannot function properly without the required and necessary resources. This applies to the related services that must function in association with the judiciary, such as the Barbados Police Service, the Probation Office and the Prison Service. It is my view that we need to understand and settle the principles on which courts are funded.

    “I could be wrong, but when you read the Budget or the Estimates, you see employees’ salaries, promoting salaries, maintenance of buildings, purchase of cars, etcetera. When one looks at the Estimates there seems to be no principle on which funding of the judiciary is built and I believe that the funding of the judiciary should be based on gross domestic product. In order to do that, one has to calculate the contribution made by the judiciary to the gross domestic product and based on that contribution, the courts should be funded so that they can improve from year to year rather than just barely survive,” he said.

    Haynes asked why there was not a formula to calculate the value of the judiciary to Barbados. He said if the judiciary contributed only five per cent to GDP, it would still be in the millions of dollars as the GDP of Barbados in 2023 was $6.39 billion.

    He suggested that another way to streamline operations was to remove the support services of the judiciary from the Office of the Attorney General.

    “When we speak of the Barbados court system, we are speaking of two entities. We are speaking of the judges, the judiciary, and we are speaking of the support staff, and the Registry, which falls under, in the Budget, the Office of the Attorney General. It is time for that to change.

    “No disrespect to the Attorney General . . . but there needs to be a closer connection between the judiciary and the support services, and the Registry and the staff. The Office of the Attorney General deals with many important matters, and therefore the time for dealing with the issues of the law courts is limited,” he said.

    The Chief Justice called for a council be established with responsibility for the administration and support services for the courts. This, he added, will ensure more time and effort is spent on the deliberation and resolution of issues.

    Haynes said Barbados should also reorganise the court support services, in particular the Registry of the Supreme Court, as there was a need for a statistician to indicate how many civil cases were present or incomplete and draw conclusions from them. He said there was also no one in the Registry who could assist with a case management flow chart.

    Haynes stressed that shifting focus to the judiciary in such a manner could have long-lasting benefits for society.

    “Efforts to ensure that Barbados is a just and law-abiding society with an accessible, efficient and fair system of justice directly contributes to the well-being of the country. Helping Barbados and Barbadians to feel safe in the community, in their communities around the island, and have trust and confidence in the justice system, improves the quality of life of each and every Barbadian and therefore provides a direct contribution to the island’s prosperity,” he said. (CA)

    Source: Nation

  20. David Avatar
    David

    Chief Justice: We can do it

    Haynes makes case for reforming justice system

    FOR THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM in Barbados to improve and the case backlog to be drastically reduced, there needs to be better disposal of cases, and action taken to boost operations at the Magistrates’ Court level.

    These were among the submissions by Chief Justice Leslie Haynes yesterday on Day 2 of the Barbados Police Service’s symposium titled Addressing Backlogs And Delays In The Barbados Criminal Justice System, being held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre,

    Two Mile Hill, St Michael.

    “We have to ascertain what is happening in the Magistrates’ Courts. [They], in my view, have been neglected for years and in order to improve the criminal justice system in Barbados, attention must be given to those courts.

    “I would like to publicly thank the National Centre of State Courts for assisting us with the modernisation of the Magistrates’ Courts. We have been working with [the centre] for a number of years and we are about to roll out a programme in relation to maintenance and family matters. Once that programme is satisfactorily rolled out, it will then be migrated to criminal and civil [matters],” Haynes said.

    He said statistics from the Barbados Police Service revealed that last year there were 765 indictable matters which were forwarded to the Magistrates’ Courts but only 186 were received by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    Further investigation

    “That leaves about 570-something cases, indictable matters, not accounted for. That’s an issue. I’m also told anecdotally that there are many more still, so further investigation is necessary. But, to give Jack his jacket, there are issues where perhaps the magistrates may have disposed of a couple of them by saying there was not sufficient evidence to support the judge.

    “In addition, as was pointed out to me earlier today, one indictable matter may have five indictable matters attached to it. So we cannot [solely] rely on the figures as such, but based on those figures and doing the best that I can do, I have arrived at the case disposition rate,” he said.

    As for the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice said 499 cases were resolved in 2024 with the DPP’s office making around 186 indictments.

    He said the case disposition rate was determined by the number of cases completed divided by the number of them instituted for the year, which in Barbados was roughly 67.6 per cent. He noted that the case backlog continued to grow once the rate was below 100 per cent and even the increase in the number of judges was insufficient to prevent it from increasing.

    Haynes said it was time those who were pleading guilty to traffic offences be able to pay fines via a system established in the Magistrates’ Court, rather than attend court and “stand up outside in the hot sun”.

    Technology

    He also called for court to start on time; advised that delays and adjournments be minimised as much as possible; the time taken for completing preliminary enquiries reduced, and technology be better utilised.

    He added that a lack of resources to help lawmen gather evidence for cases in a timelier manner was also contributing to delays in the justice system.

    “Anecdotally, I will say the case disposition rate, even though nominally calculated at 67 per cent, has improved [over time].

    “I am optimistic that with the intended changes that are to be introduced and with the change in culture I’m seeing, that within the next three to four years the case disposition rate will be close to or exceed 100 per cent.”

    He added: “Do not let us walk away believing that all is lost; all is not lost. Sixtyseven per cent is not a bad percentage to start off with . . . but my attitude towards backlog is a simple one: I don’t bother with the backlog. When I say so, what I mean is this – if you keep looking back, you will always have a backlog and, to me, the position should be that we try to improve going forward. We can’t improve going back.

    “Once you start to improve going forward, once those improvements have been made and you’re satisfied that they’re working, you can deal with the backlog separately. But if you do not improve going forward, you continue to grow the backlog. It’s as simple as that.”

    Source: Nation

  21. Frank Avatar
    Frank

    What do you expect with so many practising lawyers? Delay keeps the billing cycle alive.

  22. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ Frank
    Perhaps the REAL solution is for them to stop practicing and start performing.

  23. David Avatar
    David

    @Bush Tea

    All of the actors in the ‘system’ are complicit. From the clerks in the registries, lawyers, judges, government et al. The system is rotten to the core.

  24. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    The system is rotten to the core.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Boss, ‘systems’ are only as rotton as the persons who conceptualize and manage them are, and / or want them to be.

    Even the managers of our legal system are now ASHAMED of the shitty RESULTS that they have been producing… after YEARS if insults from the CCJ.

    EITHER they are COMPLETELY INCOMPETENT and unable to correct the systems, ….or they have hidden agendas – and WANT the status quo to remain for reasons best known to THEM.

    IN EITHER CASE – the fact that the brass bowl people will continue to tolerate such piss poor performance from government after government now points the finger at the PEOPLE who are fatally FLAWED…..

    ..in which case the leaders can’t be any better…
    ..in which case we DESERVE EXACTLY what we are getting..

    Where ‘justice’ is now being dispensed by John Citizen as he or she pleases…

    Latest joke is the CJ calling for ‘money’ to be available to ‘solve’ the problem…
    He must be have been talking to the PM….

    -No analysis of the ROOT problems
    -No Plan of action to achieve SPECIFIC results…
    -No analysis of human resource CAPABILITIES…
    …MONEY!!!

    Ready for a $100M loan from some international shark to ‘fix our legal systems’?
    …with all kind os strings trailing…?

    What a place… !!!

  25. David Avatar
    David

    Marsden Gibson’s big solution was mediation ADR. Not sure what Cheltenham’s was besides getting the CJ star on his resume to build his legacy of achievements, Leslie Haynes seems to be about throwing money at the problem.

  26. Goeht Avatar
    Goeht

    “Once you start to improve going forward, once those improvements have been made and you’re satisfied that they’re working, you can deal with the backlog separately. But if you do not improve going forward, you continue to grow the backlog. It’s as simple as that.”

    As seen, this proposal is not new but is a step back from the outright dismissal of some cases in the backlog.

    https://barbadostoday.bb/2023/12/05/judge-advises-magistrates-to-drop-cases-contributing-to-court-backlog/

    I doubt if the cases identified by the magistrate in 2023 would decrease the number in the backlog by a large amount. Now, the CJ only wants to put them on ice and thus delay justice even more. This should be fought against as it would delay justice for some even more.

    This backlog is a part of our system of justice. It is a part of how we deny/delay justice to some and it ensures some clients die before justice is administered and their thieving lawyers walk free with stolen money. The system cannot work by throwing money or judges at it, and it cannot work by further denying justice to some; for this system to work the corruption must first be removed.

  27. Goeht Avatar
    Goeht

    When the only solution is to sweep stuff under the carpet as suggested by the CJ, then you know that all is lost.

  28. David Avatar
    David

    The blogmaster is listening to the excuses about the inefficiency of the court system. It does not matter if there has been improvements here and there, what rh matters is that there is a growing backlog of cases clogging the system.

  29. David Avatar
    David

    https://youtu.be/1YPm-d37szU

  30. Miller Avatar
    Miller

    @ Bush Tea January 29, 2025 at 8:42 am

    (Quote).
    The system is rotten to the core.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Boss, ‘systems’ are only as rotton as the persons who conceptualize and manage them are, and / or want them to be.

    Even the managers of our legal system are now ASHAMED of the shitty RESULTS that they have been producing… after YEARS if insults from the CCJ.

    EITHER they are COMPLETELY INCOMPETENT and unable to correct the systems, ….or they have hidden agendas – and WANT the status quo to remain for reasons best known to THEM.
    (Unquote).
    ==================================

    Bushman, you (and the Blogmaster) have just identified, rather inadvertently, the reason why the Lawyering profession (just as old as prostitution) should be the first to undergo a complete metamorphosis under the covenant of the modern god called Artificial Intelligence (A I).

    The Lawyering profession (patented liars and scammers) is ripe for such a ‘conversion’.
    That’s the only way ‘ordinary’ citizens can be assured of receiving JUSTICE in the law courts in order to negate Errol Barrow’s long proffered advice to poor black Bajans:

    ‘If you are poor (and want Justice) stay away from Coleridge Street’.

    Even your brother prophet Yeshua warned the masses about the shenanigans of lawyers.

    For certain, Yeshua would not be welcoming them into the New Age unless they be converted as disciples of A I.

  31. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ Miller

    First thanks your your kind words. I always heard if what you doing not working it is time to try something else.

    Truth is respect for law and order lost longtime bout here. No one fears the police because the system has no teeth just long talk. I never met the man as he was before my time, but my father spoke of a traffic cop on a bike called Cyrus who basically kept order on our roads back in the day. Now do you think he was Superman or was it that people then had greater respect for police? So here is my summary of where we are in 2025. The court system is a blatant failure hence those who enforce the law have no tools to use as a deterent for crime. Let that sink in and ask yourself where we go from here? The very basis on which laws are built has no application in this island in other words. ZR man with 200 offenses still driving is a start for proof of a complete failure of a system.

    Hit people where it hurts in their pocket! Not with some silly fine either, but take their tool for earning a dollar and doing foolishness away from them and INPOUND. We have an enforcement system here that is currently paralised by inefficiency. We are applying a 1960 approach to a 2025 problem. In 1960 how many vehicles were they on our roads compared to today? Obviously we have a backlog as the system we are using can not process the volume we have. It’s simple maths and I really can’t see why our leaders can not grasp this concept. On top of this the force has a phenomenal opportunity to earn money and become self supporting by adopting change.

  32. David Avatar
    David

    @John A

    Imagine how members of the BFS feel charging people and the rotten system is unable to deliver justice. What do you think will happen eventually?

  33. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ David

    It must be disheartening to say the least. We have a station in each parish that is open 24 x7 to collect fines why aren’t we using them? Let us put the police and court system where they are self financing and no longer a cost to central government.

  34. David Avatar
    David

    @John A

    If you watched the video featuring CJ Haynes he makes the point about fining offenders, those who want to challenge go to court. Keep it simple. If you do not pay the fine, double it.

  35. John A Avatar
    John A

    @ David

    I agree with Mr Haynes 100%. You will pay the fine and charges FIRST then go court and challenge it. If you got sense you would pay the fine and hush yuh tail! LOL

    Remember if its traffic related and you don’t have insurance or license, the vehicle sitting in the inpound yard and running up fees there too.

  36. David Avatar
    David

    @John A

    CJ Haynes comes from the Mottley stable, it should not be difficult to implement what he is proposing. If his recommendations are not implemented it means it is just talk.

  37. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ John A
    Along with Cyrus was a Magistrate called ‘Perry’….
    Dem old boys used to put the fear of the law in many a BB’s donkey…

    Then along came the lawyer-type, UWI-alumni, BB types…
    ..especially the ones who are low in testecular fortitude… …
    – wasting time – and ALWAYS late..
    – cracking a lotta shiite jokes
    – meking sport with sentencing
    – and seeming to be looking for friends with de criminals…

    Now the criminal have as much respect for Law – as our politicians have for honesty…

    ..we going BACKWARDS…

  38. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    People don’t realise they have been screwed by the Courts until after they have been dragged through the system through a long lengthy expensive delayed process and spat out the other end. It is another case of power dynamics where the abuse of power is prevalent, Judges are incompetent and lawyers are bloodsucking parasites. There should be a means to cut lawyers out of the loop with advocacy groups and services providing cheaper or free advice.

  39. John Avatar
    John

    David
    January 29, 2025 at 6:13 pm
    Rate This

    @John A

    CJ Haynes comes from the Mottley stable, …….

    +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    CLICO director!!

    Did you know that the 22 odd delayed matters in the Kingsland matter are mostly all as a result of his efforts????!!!!

  40. David Avatar
    David

    How did Leslie Haynes frustrate your matter John?

  41. David Avatar
    David

    It must be bad.

    Stop lagging on backlog

    WHAT EXACTLY WILL IT TAKE to clear the backlog of criminal cases in the High Court?

    Over the years, several possible solutions have been recommended, from switching to continuous criminal sittings rather than quarterly assizes, weeding out aged old cases, increasing judges and prosecutors, having fixed dates for trials and no same-day adjournments unless under exceptional circumstances. Some of these were even implemented but still the cry goes up every so often about a gridlock of soaring cases.

    Neither the Barbados Labour Party nor the Democratic Labour Party administrations, led at different points by attorneys, has been able to control this monster of a problem. From the days of well respected Chief Justice Sir David Simmons in the 2000s – and possibly beyond – there has been the enduring complaint about the backing up of these cases.

    Now, we are hearing from Attorney General Dale Marshall in 2025 that since 2011 the accumulation of unheard matters has increased fivefold.

    Broken down, there are 1 606 matters awaiting trial when in 2011 there were about 350 cases at a time when there were two judges and four or five prosecutors assigned to the serious criminal matters.

    Today, there are eight criminal court judges and 16 prosecutors and still no ease in the backlog which, along with delaying justice for the accused and the victim, has an additional complication as some accused have lodged civil cases claiming a breach of their civil rights to have a trial within a reasonable time.

    Some have been successful in these lawsuits and if keeping cases in the system for years is expensive to the Government, losing lawsuits and having to pay compensation to someone whose guilty or innocence status remains unclear, may prove even costlier to the taxpayers in the long run.

    To add to the long list of recommendations, there is now discussion about forming a prosecution service with specialised counsel.

    The connection between having a dedicated prosecutorial service in easing the backlog is not immediately clear, not if the adjournment culture between prosecution and defence counsel continues, not if the courts are not sitting long enough, not if police files are constantly not ready or missing and not if jurors are released too early so as not to be available when there is a fallout with another case.

    Additionally, a case cannot be considered completed if an overworked Barbados Probation Service is not staffed properly enough to deliver on time the critical presentencing reports.

    It is shockingly bad, this state of affairs, and that we are hearing of the climbing numbers when just a few years ago under this administration the proposed solutions were more judges, prosecutors and more use of mediation on the civil side.

    Can anyone, preferably the Attorney General and the Chief Justice Leslie Haynes tell us why these solutions have not worked? The honeymoon is over for the Chief Justice. These are not times to have criminal matters lagging when members of the public are in fear and statistics are revealing that an uncomfortable number of accused on bail are being charged with other serious offences sometimes two and three or more instances.

    A failing justice system can have an overall negative impact on the country where people begin to feel they are not being treated fairly.

    That feeling cannot be allowed to take root and the lack of justice on the criminal side of the justice system must be halted.

    Source: Nation

  42. Boyce Avatar
    Boyce

    We are on track to 72 murders in 2025. Just as bosses determine culture so too does leaders of countries. Trump America is a great example, Rowley Trinidad, Mia Barbados etc. Hopelessness, the feeling of despair, unequal opportunities, high unemployment, dirty streets, bad roads, poor healthcare, nepotism, political arrogance, death of meritocracy, bad services all contribute to the anger leading to persons lashing out.

  43. Boyce Avatar
    Boyce

    Another murder https://nationnews.com/2025/01/30/fatal-shooting-at-ashford-road/

  44. John Avatar
    John

    David
    January 29, 2025 at 9:11 pm
    Rate This

    How did Leslie Haynes frustrate your matter John?

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    1. Misled the court in 1998 and insisted Classic was a “desirable shareholder” and covered under a clause in the Schedule to the Articles when in fact it was in the process of trying to defeat the Trust nature of the Family Trust Company, Kingsland.

    The result is that all lands purportedly sold have defective deeds because Kingsland, its property and assets have not been released from the terms of the trust.

    Potentially the case backlog could increase by 400+ as the defective deeds are straightened out.

    2. Also misled the court in 2002 that Security for Costs were necessary. Court of Appeal awarded $1,000,000.00 against Marjorie Knox which she raised by mortgaging her shares which were given her as part of the consideration for the 1,133 acres she and her siblings and parents conveyed to Kingsland.

    The other part of the consideration were the terms of the Trust.

    Kingsland undertook to pay satisfy discharge and fulfil all the debts liabilities contracts and engagements she incurred in relation to the lands conveyed to Kingsland and to indemnify her from all proceedings claims and demands in respect thereof.

    In simple terms, 26 years of completely wasted legal proceedings.

    Q. Ask yourself why would the Executive Branch fund the court with taxpayer money to waste its time?

    A. The answer is the Executive Branch controls the Judicial Branch and wanted control of the 1,133 acres as it thought those lands could attract $800 million USD in foreign investment (CLICO or whoever) in their ill conceived Golf Tourism project.

  45. John Avatar
    John

    After that, application followed application to delay and frustrate the matter while all Kingsland fraudulently sold its land!!.

  46. 555dubstreet Avatar
    555dubstreet

    Real Estate fuckeries is all about Location Location
    Kingsland is a bit like the Trump and Gaza dramas
    The Knox Family are like the poor Palestinians
    It must be “God’s Will” manifesting as per Bible

  47. Bush Tea Avatar
    Bush Tea

    @ David
    “Chief Justice Leslie Haynes was on the news begging for more money to fund the judiciary.”
    ~~~~~~
    Boss, if you hire a carpenter he will come with a hammer and saw.
    So if you hire an ex-clico director what else would you expect?
    He probably needs $3.3M, ….as that appears to be a popular figure…

    BTW, What became of the issue of the CLICO money paid to a former PM? did it even make it to court? …or is it one of the thousands of ‘pending’ matters..?

    ..then we act surprised that the youth are so…!!

    What a damned place!!

  48. John Avatar
    John

    555dubstreet
    January 30, 2025 at 7:14 am
    Rate This

    Real Estate fuckeries is all about Location Location
    Kingsland is a bit like the Trump and Gaza dramas
    The Knox Family are like the poor Palestinians
    It must be “God’s Will” manifesting as per Bible

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    I don’t feel poor!!

    I have enjoyed every minute unravelling the mystery!!!

    I am honoured to have been one of the few chosen to expose this charade.

  49. GOeht Avatar
    GOeht

    Land (housing, agriculture, food) and roads are the only ducks that remain to be plucked.
    Expects increased activity in these areas.

  50. John Avatar
    John

    GOeht
    January 30, 2025 at 10:07 am
    Rate This

    Land (housing, agriculture, food) and roads are the only ducks that remain to be plucked.
    Expects increased activity in these areas.

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    They are privately owned property which the GOB means to have control over come what may.

    Control of the judicial branch is clearly a necessity because the constitution is pretty explicit on private property!!

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