Dear Editor,
One does not need a microscope to see that there seems to be a lack of accountability running through the fabric of the Jamaican judicial system.
As the head of this critical arm of Government, Chief Justice Zaila McCalla must be held accountable for things done and things left undone.
She was appointed on June 27, 2007; by my count, it is almost eight years and her legacy to date is very little. Recently, I saw her in the newspapers twice saying that she does not have the requisite resources. Frankly, I find this excuse unacceptable.
The truth is, the police, the firemen, the doctors, the teachers, the civil servants can all make the same claim. However, they have received the 'memo' that we are a poor, developing country and, for the greater good, they have to sacrifice and innovate to make do with what they have received.
I was taught that there are three official arms of government: the executive, the legislature and the judiciary, while ostensibly the public servants are seen as the fourth. It is my view that the media and civil society have held the judiciary to a lower standard.
Many Jamaican are suffering a great injustice because of the 400,000-case backlog and the deterioration of the justice system. Clearly, this chief justice is a luxury this country can no longer afford.
While it is international best practice that the judiciary should be independent and seen as separated from the influence of the State, this must not be misconstrued by the chief and her judges that they are not accountable.
If she is not a part of the solution, she should resign.
Mark Anthony
Orlando, Florida
markanthony.6363@yahoo.com
A luxury this country can no longer afford
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One does not need a microscope to see that there seems to be a lack of accountability running through the fabric of the Jamaican judicial system.
As the head of this critical arm of Government, Chief Justice Zaila McCalla must be held accountable for things done and things left undone.
She was appointed on June 27, 2007; by my count, it is almost eight years and her legacy to date is very little. Recently, I saw her in the newspapers twice saying that she does not have the requisite resources. Frankly, I find this excuse unacceptable.
The truth is, the police, the firemen, the doctors, the teachers, the civil servants can all make the same claim. However, they have received the 'memo' that we are a poor, developing country and, for the greater good, they have to sacrifice and innovate to make do with what they have received.
I was taught that there are three official arms of government: the executive, the legislature and the judiciary, while ostensibly the public servants are seen as the fourth. It is my view that the media and civil society have held the judiciary to a lower standard.
Many Jamaican are suffering a great injustice because of the 400,000-case backlog and the deterioration of the justice system. Clearly, this chief justice is a luxury this country can no longer afford.
While it is international best practice that the judiciary should be independent and seen as separated from the influence of the State, this must not be misconstrued by the chief and her judges that they are not accountable.
If she is not a part of the solution, she should resign.
Mark Anthony
Orlando, Florida
markanthony.6363@yahoo.com
A luxury this country can no longer afford
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