VI generous in offering legal aid, says Judge
Justice Charles, who spent seven years in the Virgin Islands (VI), now sits among 17 judges on the Bahamas Supreme Court bench.
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – The Virgin Islands (VI) is one of few jurisdictions that is generous in offering legal aid assistance to persons who are facing trial in the High Court.
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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so is she saying tis not ah good ting?
so when is she leaving?
i hope she does not leave…she will be missed by the bvi and the legal system..she was fair
yeap only in the bvi that is why we cannot keep the island people and others (whites) out we country its a good place to be
look at justice Charles so elegant and stylist!
you going get beating up from so stop looking….lol safe journey Ms. Charles
I think this system needs looking at. The Board is a rubber stamp for anybody who applies, whether they can pay or not, and sometimes on simple charges like petty theft. Where are the means test? Why aren’t we like other countries who offer legal-aid if one is charged with a capital offence that will require a huge jail time? Why are we acting like money in the BVI cannot run out. Why are forgetting the size of this country/ The Judge should have said overly generous. The lawyers are actually jockeying for legal-aid cases the Government is soo generous. Need to be looked into. Hope the new Government does just that.