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Tales From The Courts – Part I
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Tales From The COURTS – Part II
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Tales From The COURTS – PART III
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Tales From The COURTS – Part IV
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Tales From The Courts Part V – Chief Justice Marston Gibson Scores An F In Year One
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Tales From The Courts Part VI – Madam Justice Issues Order to a Dead Person
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Tales From The Courts VII – Exposing ‘Teefing’ and Incompetent Lawyers
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Tales From The COURTS VIII – Justice Elneth Kentish v Businessman Joseph Jordan
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Tales From the COURTS IX – The CLICO AFFAIR Involving the FSC and the BIPA
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Tales from the Courts Part X – John Doe v. Sgt Vernon Waithe
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Tales From the Courts Part XI: Sir Frederick Smith Attacked by Nation Editorial – when hypocrisy becomes high camp
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Tales From The Courts &ndash XII;Barbados Bar Membership Revisited – Registrar and Sir David Simmons, Wilfred Abrahams Exposed
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Tales From the Courts – Judges Fiddling On the Bench Assisted by Registrar Marva Clarke Part XIII
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Tales from the Courts – Madam Justice Cornelius Delivers on the Dr. Richard Ishmael v QEH Matter, FINALLY Part XIV
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Tales From the Courts – Marva Clarke Gone: Oh Happy Day Part XV
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Tales from the Courts – The Record of Chief Justice Sir Marston Gibson Part XVI
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Tales from the Courts – A lucky Dip into the Decisions of the Barbados Court of Appeal Part XVII
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Tales from the Courts – Mars(ton) and Pluto Were Inside the Closet Part XVIII
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Tales from the Courts – Sir Marston Gibson a FAILURE XIX
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Tales from the Courts – Arresting the Slide XIX
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Tales from the Courts – No Excuses Says Former Judge XX
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Tales from the Courts – Has Chief Justice Gibson Brought the JUSTICE System into DISREPUTE? XXI
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Tales From the Courts – Bar Association Complicit XXII
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Tales from the Courts – Chief Justice Marston Gibson Puts Foot in Mouth XXIII
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Tales from the Courts–Justice Jacqueline Cornelius Makes Speaker of the House Michael Carrington PAY XXIV
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Tales From the Courts – The Idiocy of Chief Justice Marston Gibson XXV
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Tales from the Courts – A Tale of Woes XXVI
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Tales From the Courts – The Ongoing Saga of Chief Justice Marston Gibson XXVII
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Tales from the Courts – “THE OTHER SIDE OF THE KINGSLAND ESTATES MATTER” and “THE SECRETIVE WORLD OF PETER ANDREW ALLARD” XXVII (Update)
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Tales from the Courts – Alair Shepherd’s Butt EXPOSED XXVIII
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Tales from the Courts – The Ongoing Saga of Donald Best, Peter Allard and Marjorie Knox’s Claim to 1% of Barbados XXIX
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Tales from the Courts – Adriel Brathwaite #bajanswantchange XXX
75 responses to “Tales From The COURTS”
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@ The OG
The Barbados Tourism brand must be protected.
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The ‘cops’ do not call everything natural causes, it is the pathologist.
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Wasn’t there an English socialite who died in a hotel under mysterious circumstances and the Bajan media and public barred from the inquest?
This latest didn’t seem to make the local news or if it did it didn’t raise any eyebrows.
How come both women “choked on their vomit”? Is choking on one’s vomit a regular occurrence?
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#cocaine
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Not English, but Irish. Her father-in-law was from an elite horse riding background. Indeed our very own Hal Austin would often reference the profileration of the Irish “business” community in Barbados. The press were banned from sitting in the court at the request of the McManus family.
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@Sargeant December 4, 2024 at 4:45 pm “Is choking on one’s vomit a regular occurrence?”
Yes, for those who are “impaired” by some substance or another.
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Met police officer who ‘offered to supply drugs at swingers parties’ dies in prison
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/warren-arter-metropolitan-police-hmp-wandsworth-death-prison-b1170670.htmlMet officer dismissed for purchasing, offering to supply and taking controlled drugs on multiple occasions
https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/news/met-officer-dismissed-purchasing-offering-supply-and-taking-controlled-drugs-multiple -
Sick truth behind 2016 wedding photo
Only ten mourners showed up at Warren Arter’s funeral last month as he carried to the grave the true scale of his depravity
https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/sick-truth-behind-2016-wedding-photo/news-story/1e531f72fcc9db4eaab03b449ca5a8ff -
Judge ‘scotching in courtrooms’
A judge yesterday complained about “scotching” in courtrooms to do her trials because of non-functioning technology in her substantive courtroom and some of the other courts assigned to criminal trials.
Justice Pamela Beckles said of the lack of technology: “This is 2025.
It is not good enough and it is slowing us down.”
She is assigned to the No. 5 Supreme Court but was speaking in the No. 2 Supreme Court where she has switched in order to conduct two trials that are in progress – that of rape accused parliamentarian Neil Rowe; and murder accused Richard Shamario Worrell, 34, of Derriston Road, Grazettes, St Michael, and Andre Clyde Cave, 46, of Fairfield Cross Road, St Michael, who are charged with the death of Josiah Clairmont, 22, of Orchid Drive, Husbands, St James, on February 16, 2014.
The judge has been bouncing between courts and yesterday the matter came to a head just before the Rowe matter got fully under way. Issues arose over the failing technology that is critical to having overseas witnesses testify via Zoom, the CAT reporters having proper audio in order to provide timely transcripts, and the properly functioning monitors so that jurors and the entire courtroom can view photographs and video recordings.
“I have to start late. I am here scotching and sometimes it works out. Those who have ears to hear, let them hear. If they upgrade the system things would be a lot better.
I’m scotching in No. 2 Supreme Court when my substantial court is No. 5,” she said.
Justice Beckles said the audio quality in the alternative court was affecting the preparation of daily transcripts, with one such transcript outstanding since Wednesday which was the second day of Rowe’s trial.
The prosecution was informing the court about a witness who is overseas and the issue of having that testimony via Zoom came up, but it was pointed out that the audio and connection might be a possible issue.
In relation to the non-functioning monitors, the judge said police photographers in particular were forced to go up close to the jurors in order to point out certain aspects of the photographs, rather than using the technology which magnified the images on monitors.
She had switched to that court from the No. 5 Supreme Court where the technology is down, and stressed that a technology upgrade is one of the biggest necessity.
“We really need a technology upgrade if the CAT reporters cannot hear from the witness, the defence and the prosecution . . . . We have the technology available and we really should be using it,” she said.
As a result of not having the technology in her home court, Justice Beckles explained that she usually waited until one of the judges was finished for the day to use their courtroom to hear her matters. That, she added, impeded the attempts at speedy trials.
She said that over her 30 years in the judicial system, she has been working with what was there.
“This is what I do every day, work with what I have,” she said.
Source: Nation
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Digital system for magistrates’ courts
IN AN EFFORT to move on from paper-based systems, the judiciary is launching a Judicial Information Management System (JIMS) to be deployed in the magistrates’ courts across the island.
This new system, set to be activated from April 25, is expected to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of magistrates and court staff, improve the management of cases and monitor them in real time.
Roll-out of the JIMS will begin at the District ‘D’ Magistrates’ Court in Cane Garden, St Thomas where, yesterday, it was demonstrated to an audience that included several members of the court system as well as Chief Justice Leslie Haynes.
Transformation
He said the technology was an important chapter in the magistrates’ courts which have been long in waiting for major development in their operations.
“Today is an important day for us in terms of technology and the transformation of the magistrates’ courts from a paper-based system to a digital system, where searches and reviews of files can be done by the push of a button.
“Not the sense where sometimes we have books where we record everything and they are not up to date, so we don’t know what’s happening with the magistrates’ courts. The need for the modernisation of the magistrates’ courts cannot be disputed,” the Chief Justice said.
He said that by the old system, a misplaced book will often create a kind of chaos, but he expects that the new platform will be able to ensure more efficient tracking of information.
The JIMS project was spearheaded by a steering committee, appointed by the Chief Justice in collaboration with the National Centre for State Courts.
Case details and parties involved will be entered by clerical staff and court clerks, and will include additional information spanning any special accommodations needed for defendants or complainants, and the time a case is expected to last.
The District ‘D’ Court was chosen as the launch site for the first phase of the system due to its new and updated technology. The District ‘F’ Magistrates’ Court at the Eric Holder Jr Municipal Complex in Horse Hill, St Joseph, will be the next designation.
The early roll-out will focus on family and maintenance cases, with 846 existing cases involving 2 788 parties being entered into the system. Within the threemonth timeline it will then expand to criminal, as well as traffic and civil cases.
“We do not now have a criminal registry,” the Chief Justice said. “But we are hoping that that criminal registry will be digital so that when accused persons are charged by the police, under the criminal procedure rules to be enacted, there will be a time period in which the disclosure has to be made.
“That disclosure should be made digitally to the magistrates and magistrates’ courts, to the criminal registry, and then we will move from disclosure on to a sufficiency hearing in the High Court by a Master, and then we move from there to the tribunal. All of that, hopefully, will be done digitally,” Haynes said. (JRN)
Source: Nation
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“The seven men accused of murdering teacher Dwight Holder were found not guilty tonight in the No. 3 Supreme Court.”
https://nationnews.com/2025/06/19/seven-found-not-guilty-of-murdering-teacher/
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@ the Blog master. Surprised that a custody case with me and my first wife would merit a place on this website.
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Process in probate section too tedious
I am writing as a concerned member of the general public about the unsatisfactory processing of applications for letters of administration to deceased Barbadians’ estates, whether it be Letters of Administration or Letters Testamentary.
It is known by us of a certain vintage that before we had the imposing, new court building, the Supreme Court operated out of a dilapidated building on Coleridge Street. There, applications for Letters of Representation to their deceased relatives’ estates were handled by dedicated and mindful Registrars of the Supreme Court and by a wonderfully dedicated and sincerely empathetic employee, the late Mr Grant. May his soul continue to rest in total peace.
That dear man used to “push work”, as we say in Bajan parlance, and the dog in the court yard could approach him with a question and get a humanely delivered answer and useful guidance.
Nowadays, there seems to be an indifference at all levels of the court system to the financial hardship that the beneficiaries of deceased’s estate must suffer through while they await an interminable process.
The grant of Letters of Representation seem to take anywhere from two years to five, if you are lucky.
Respectfully, Madam Prime Minister and Mr Attorney General, the small people have to live too and they can use the proceeds of their deceased relatives’ accounts held with financial institutions or the proceeds of insurance policies held by those said same deceased relatives to help stimulate the local economy. Schoolbooks can be bought, after school lessons can be paid for, houses can be repaired or extended, food can be bought (with attendant taxes being generated on income to the country’s benefit).
Elderly survivors can be cared for as many of those deceased Bajans intended.
Madam PM, help us by having whatever it is going on in the probate section of the court fixed, we humbly plead!
– Yvette Callender
Source: Letter to the Nation
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Same old.
CJ calls for fully digital
CHIEF JUSTICE LESLIE HAYNES wants to see the judiciary fully brought into the digital era to ensure all interactions are carried out as expeditiously as possible.
Speaking during a special sitting in Supreme Court No. 1 yesterday, after a service at St Michael’s Cathedral in The City and an inspection of the guard outside the Supreme Court Complex to mark the start of the legal year, he said the objective continued to be “to transform the present justice system into a modern one”.
He called for governments here and in the region to make the judiciary and the criminal justice system a priority and have it reflected in their national budgets.
“The judiciary across the region has been neglected for at least the past 40 years when it comes to its budgetary allocation,” he declared in the presence of Acting Attorney General Wilfred Abrahams, Justices of Appeal and High Court judges, the Registrar, Solicitor General, magistrates, attorneys, members of the clergy and staff of the Supreme Court.
Haynes said that whereas the Magistrates’ Courts had been “devoid of technology for decades”, they were now the focus of transformation “with a charge towards full technological outfitting”.
He informed the gathering that donations from the Partnership of the Caribbean and European Union on Justice Project – a joint effort of the European Union and the United Nations Development Programme – were largely responsible for this advancement aimed at “shifting the Magistrates’ Courts from paper-based courts to digital”.
The Chief Justice, in a wide-ranging address, said an outcome would be the networking of all courts, where “the days of persons showing up in one court whilst hiding from another; persons having criminal records that a magistrate cannot access from the Bench; and the days of parents being unable to ascertain what monies are there for their children”, will be coming to an end.
Additionally, court marshals will be better able to carry out the business of serving those who are summoned to court, once “the ticketing system is introduced, allowing persons to pay fines online without a court hearing”.
Explaining that of the 20 000 summonses issues annually, nearly 75 per cent come out of the Traffic Court, Haynes said that going forward, only those who wish to plead not guilty would need to be summoned.
Outstanding judgments
In his update on the performance of the Supreme Court, he reported that the Attorney General had agreed to have all pre-2020 Court of Appeal outstanding judgments retried at the expense of the State, while the number of undelivered decisions by retired High Court judges and those who were temporarily appointed was reducing. He added that during the course of the last year, “well over 150 matters” were reassigned to judges of the High Court and the Master.
In terms of the perennial problem of case backlog, Haynes made it clear the judiciary was not “the starting point”.
“It depends on other agencies like forensics and availability of counsel. Everything that is needed to bring matters to a determination needs to be put in place,” he said.
The Chief Justice also took note of some of the laws passed in recent times, including the Criminal Proceedings (Witness Anonymity) Act 2025, which makes provision for securing the anonymity of witnesses in criminal proceedings and for related matters, as well as an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act which allows for judge-alone trials. The latter, he said, strengthened judges’ ability to manage cases and reduced the management of juries and delays.
He advocated for mandatory Bench trials for certain types of offences, particularly where juror antipathy existed because of fear.
“Over 50 per cent of court time is spent on jury management. This could be reduced [with] judge-alone trials,” he said, while also pointing out that plea bargaining was one of the proposed tools to help with the backlog.
Source: Nation
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Last year he wanted money
Now he wants digitation
Next year he will talk shiite about AICan SOMEBODY tell the CJ that what he REALLY needs is COMPETENT leadership, ETHICAL behaviors, accountability, and proper planning and execution?
Oh Wait!!!
THAT is probably what he will say in his last speech before retiring and having some other CLICO or HOPE reject take up the post….
What a joke!! -
Office
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@ David
Bushie was wondering when Government would come down HARD on the increasing business of ordinary Bajans getting into airbnb-type business, and competing with the hotels.
We all know that ANY attempt by ordinary black bajans to engage in serious business will be quickly snuffed out by our ‘caring’ government.
The public transport sector, the metal recycling and garbage recycling businesses, the car rentals sector – are all examples where for some unclear reason, GOVERNMENT seeks to limit, tax, and frustrate LOCALS, while at the same time giving TAXPAYER funded incentives to big, foreign, and / or white players.When Arthur slapped that ridiculous tax on ZR businesses – WHO WERE PERFORMING AN ESSENTIAL PUBLIC SERVICE (at NO cost to taxpayers), while dumping millions into a grossly inefficient Transport Board, …one could only be saddened at the irony.
When Almond was destroyed, and UNBELIEVABLE concessions GIVEN to Sandals, the logic involved was CLEARLY hidden from public view.
Now when it seems that our multiplicity of million-dollar hotel projects are realizing that visitors are INCREASINGLY opting for airbnb stays – OUTSIDE of the expensive and overrated hotel experience, SOMEHOW our government is motivated to ‘bring these private enterprises under control, and apply standards’.
ie to register, red tape, and tax them back into poverty.If this VENDETTA was being publicly pushed by the wealthy and highly SUBSIDIZED hotel sector, this would be easily explained. But can you help us to understand why OUR government has become so ‘gung ho’ in protecting the wealthy hotel sector from competition from ordinary private investors?
…unless by forcing private properties OUT of the visitor hosting business, government can at last get their 10,000 houses for NHC rentals by next elections…It seems that our government’s idea of a ’successful’ local black business is a coconut vendor, calypsonian (except de announcer) or entertainer, or a taxi driver waiting at the port / airport.
Can it be that our ‘government’ is merely the modern executive arm of the old massa outfit – which continues to pull the strings bout here…?
SMH
Listening to Kerrie Symmonds on this topic literally made Bushie sick….
What a place!!
What a curse! -
@ Bush Tea
If government intends to sign in to every loan agreement or become respected members of the establishment conditions will be attached. Regulation is one such precondition. We talk a good talk especially regarding enfranchisement but … the proof of the pudding is always in the eating.
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looking good.
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” four Glock pistols, three Taurus pistols, a Springfield Armoury USA pistol, two Bersa pistols, a SIG Sauer pistol, a Herstal, a Para Ordnance, one Ruger, one Sturm Ruger, a SIG Arms pistol, a Smith & Wesson revolver, and a Smith & Wesson pistol”
https://barbadostoday.bb/2025/12/13/trio-convicted-of-having-illegal-guns-ammunition/
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