VI generous in offering legal aid, says Judge
This is according to former High Court Judge Indra Hariprashad-Charles who also supports the current deposit to be paid to receive such assistance.
“In most other jurisdictions they only offer legal aid for those with murder charges...the BVI has gone on to give legal aid to every single accused in the High Court who can’t afford the services of a lawyer,” Justice Charles pointed out.
The criminal assizes in 2011 recorded over 15 individuals securing legal aid assistance and whilst some of those persons struggle to pay the $500 deposit, Justice Charles is of the view that the fee should not be dropped.
“They should bear some of the burden, don’t put everything on the state. So they must be grateful and I don’t think any cost of that nature should be reduced at all,” she added.
Meanwhile, Justice Charles also commended the prison system for its rehabilitative programmes and "the dignity and humanity" in which prisoners are treated.
“I think it is at a very high standard. When you visit the prison and you see the prisoners have rights and it is important they should have rights like everyone else. The prison is well kept and properly managed by the state and credit should be given to that,” she added.
Justice Charles, who spent seven years in the Virgin Islands (VI), now sits among 17 judges on the Bahamas Supreme Court bench.
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