Agencies Achievements & Ongoing Initiatives
I am pleased to inform this Honourable House that the Ministry of the Public Service, in conjunction with the
relevant Ministries and Public Service agencies, has concluded all except three collective bargaining agreements.
The agreements with the Doctors Union and the Bahamas Customs, Immigration and Allied Workers Union
are still outstanding and the Bahamas Air Traffic Controllers Union is nearing completion.
1)
Provide timely legal advice to the
Government;
2)
To provide efficient and effective legal representation for the government in
international and national matters
Drafting of Legislation
Ensuring access to justice for all
3)
4)
Annex H
The Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Legal Affairs has as its mandate:-
The Benefits of Swift Justice
The Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Legal Affairs since the return of the present
government to office has embarked upon several initiatives to reform and strengthen the administration of
justice system.
One such initiative is: the Swift Justice.
Swift Justice facilitates the collaboration between key
institutions that are involved in the administration of Justice such as the RBPF, the Department of Corrections,
the Public Hospital Authority and the Department of Social Services. Through weekly meeting we have
developed new policies with respect to the preparation of cases thereby speeding up criminal proceedings and
ensuring that we achieve more successful prosecutions.
The old adage justice delayed is justice denied has led the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry
of Legal Affairs to establish a team to tackle the backlog of cases. A dedicated team working seamlessly with the
additional criminal courts has played a vital role in the reduction of “old” cases.
A dministration of Justice
Other acknowledged impediments to the delivery of Justice are.
a)
b)
c)
d)
The unavailability of transcripts
Inability to empanel jurors
Calendaring conflicts
Lack of Defense Counsel
Court Reporting Unit
The Court Reporting Unit has been modernized. All reporters have now been assigned to the Supreme
Courts.
They have been equipped with laptops and new stenographic machines. Thereby increasing
productivity.
Office of the Public Defender
The opening office of the Public Defender is another bold step in improvement of the delivery of justice.
The Government of The Bahamas through the establishment of this office is ensuring that persons, who of their
own resources are unable to retain legal counsel, will have the services of a Public Defender.
This will
eliminate unnecessary delays of due to cases due to the lack of Counsel.
The Swift Justice initiative has caused us to develop new policies with respect to the preparation of
cases thereby speedily up criminal proceedings and ensuring that we achieve more successful prosecutions.
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2016/2017
DRAFT
ESTIMATES
OF REVENUE &
EXPENDITURE