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HOA did not receive a verbatim transcript within last five years

Minister queried whether the Courts had preference over the House of Assembly
Ms. Paula Ajarie, Registrar of the Supreme and Commercial Courts.
The Count Reporting Until Falls Under the Registrar of the High/Commercial Courts. It was brought to light in the 2012 Standing Finance Committee meeting that the House Of Assembly had not received verbatim transcript within the last five years.
The Count Reporting Until Falls Under the Registrar of the High/Commercial Courts. It was brought to light in the 2012 Standing Finance Committee meeting that the House Of Assembly had not received verbatim transcript within the last five years.
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - During the 2012 Standing Finance Committee (SFC), a body appointed by the House of Assembly (HOA) to examine the draft budget estimates for this year, it was brought to light that the HOA, the highest law making body of the Virgin Islands, has not received verbatim transcript within the last five years from the Court Reporting Unit.

Appearing before the SFC was Ms. Paula Ajarie, Registrar of the Supreme and Commercial Courts. The Member for the Third District Julian Fraser RA, queried of the Registrar whether the Supreme Court was responsible for the Court Reporting Unit to which Ms. Ajarie responded in the affirmative.

Hon. Fraser then asked why the HOA had not received a verbatim transcript within the last five years, to which the Registrar informed the body that the Court Reporting Unit was under quite a lot of pressure. The Minister for Health and Social Development Ronnie W. Skelton enquired what type of problem the Unit was experiencing.

The Registrar informed that the Territory had three courts and the Unit presently had five Court Reporters. She explained that along with the usual court assizes, the Court Reporters had to work when the Court of Appeal was in session therefore, four courts were operating simultaneously. Ms. Ajarie told the group that the Court Reporters also helped with the SFC proceedings therefore, they had a hectic workload and were under quite a tremendous amount of pressure.

To this, Minister Skelton queried whether the courts had preference over the HOA as it relates to the submission of reports from the Court Reporting Unit. The Registrar stated that based on her answer she did not imply that the courts had more preference over the HOA . She stated that the Unit was making every effort in assisting the HOA and was given a three-day deadline to complete the verbatim reports, however, they had requested an extension in completing the reports which was brought to the attention of the Speaker.

The Registrar informed the SFC that she was startled when she learnt that the transcripts had not been produced for the five year period. She explained that when she investigated the matter she was informed that different reporters had done different portions of the HOA sittings and they were trying to recover from each person who worked on the transcripts the portions that they had completed to compile the transcripts.

Meanwhile, Minister for Education and Culture Myron V. Walwyn asked whether anyone from the HOA had liaised with the Department about the completion of the transcripts or whether the transcripts were not produced over the five year period as a result of no one paying close attention to the completion of them. To this, Ms. Ajarie informed the Committee that the completion of transcripts for the five year period was brought to her attention over the summer by the Clerk of the HOA.

Ms. Ajarie also told the SFC that no one from the HOA enquired about the status of the transcripts during the five year period in responds to a question from Minister Walwyn.

The Education Minister also asked the Registrar to write to him and advise on how many Court Reporters were needed for the Unit because there are over 490 unemployed young persons in the Territory. He also requested that Ms. Ajarie write to him outlining what the Department’s long term goals were so that persons could be identified to study court reporting.

In addition, the Minister for Education and Culture also asked about the Department‘s succession plan. To this, the Registrar Ms. Ajarie, a Jamaican National, told the HOA Select Committee on the Budget that her Department had a succession plan implemented. She explained that the Department had a Deputy Registrar who was expected to succeed the Registrar in due time.

19 Responses to “HOA did not receive a verbatim transcript within last five years”

  • Wise Guy (13/04/2012, 13:42) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wow she looks sweet! Always heard of her but never saw a pic..nice!!
  • nanny cay (13/04/2012, 13:44) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Instead of the bow tie man mother go do her court reporting she up and down campaigning for next time lol
    • CHEK SHE (13/04/2012, 13:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      the government should ask why this woman still in contract for over 10years
      • virgin son (13/04/2012, 16:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Only in the BVI the Legislative branch is not taken seriously. Ronnie you know she trying to say you all fall below the courts…BAM
    • @Nanny cay (13/04/2012, 14:43) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Stop throwing words as she now works in A chambers! Stop being small minded and stuck in time!
    • @Nannay Cay (14/04/2012, 08:27) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      This comment is for Nanny Cay ...For your information, the bow tie man's mother as you put it, is no longer a court reporter ... she is an Attorney-at-Law (i.e. a lawyer, Barrister, Legal Counsel, Crown Counsel) choose one, tek dat ... put it in your pipe and smoke it!!! Now you need to hit the campaign trail and hopefully find some common sense or at least accurate information… LOL! to dat BEATCH!!!
    • You outta place!! (15/04/2012, 18:08) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      You well out of place!! How you want to tell this qualified professional what to do. She is now a qualified lawyer called to the bar if you please.Why don't you get qualified as a Court Reporter and go do the job. You out of all order.
  • SHARA PARLIN (13/04/2012, 15:59) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    year a succession plan from a JAMDOWN to a Kittian...no where is there room for lcoals..shame on dem
    • born here (13/04/2012, 17:38) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      well there is no hope for locals under this government deman
      • Food for thought (13/04/2012, 20:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        If the locals aren't applying for the positions how do you expect the position to be filled by a local?
  • Not2Sure (13/04/2012, 16:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Interesting. And interesting that it took the HoA so long to notice...
  • hmm (13/04/2012, 16:48) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    When I worked as Deputy Clerk for Leg Co, myself and the other secretaries produced the verbatim reports from cassette tapes. Why should the court be burdened down with this task when they are in court every single day? HOA only meets now and again. The HOA staff should be producing these reports
    • DIY (14/04/2012, 07:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I was wondering the very same thing. Why don't they do their own reports? Instead of blaming the few court reporters who have their hands full, they should look into doing their own reports from whatever means they can right now.
  • hope (14/04/2012, 15:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    i have met Ms. Ajarie she is a very sweet and professional lady
    • Time to go (14/04/2012, 16:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Hope, sweet and professional when you dont know about the inside thing. She has allowed a certain lady to control her to the exclusion of the Deputy. Then the Court Reporting Department has no respect for her. Transcripts are delayed and she cannot even speak to them. Take that. Time for her to board Air Jamaica.
  • insider (15/04/2012, 21:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    but her deputy is a waste of time..does he do any work??? I heard all he does is return the files with no actions..if dem are to take over lord send help
  • Truth be told (16/04/2012, 09:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    To set the record straight, it is very unfair to blame the Court Reporting Unit for the non-production of transcripts, because one "insignificant" (sacrasm) fact that the Clerk and Registrar conveniently overlooked is that the HOA had their OWN Court Reporter working in THEIR OFFICES for the last five years, and that's who should be held liable for the production (or non-production) of transcripts, not the Court Reporting Unit!!!
  • IG (25/11/2012, 18:12) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    I can tell you all from now, that this woman is a very hard worker... She has neglected her family in Jamaica to fill a position that your local people aren't qualified to fill and to blame her for the inefficiency of your implemented system and expect her to make bread out of stone is not going to happen! She has always been a first class student and never gave less than 100% to whatever task she is assigned. I feel sorry for those of you who seek to judge her without knowing anything about her. But I can guarantee you one thing, her honesty is unsurpassed in a world so filled with corruption and you should all feel blessed to have her working for you! Stop expecting her to be a superhuman and full-fill every single task all by herself, she already has enough on her plate to tackle!


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