The Law Revision Act 2014 was tabled in the HoA by Attorney General Dr. Christopher Malcolm. Photo: GIS

Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr the Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering underscored the importance of the legal system of the VI becoming electronic as he seconded a motion in the HoA yesterday March 19, 2013 for the passing of the Law Revision Act 2014. Photo: VINO/File

“Alongside the Bill we just passed Madam Speaker is a whole process that the country is undertaking to bring the country in line with what we are expected to be. We are not even leap frogging any competition or moving behind anybody here. We are just playing catch up,” stated Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Dr the Honourable Kedrick D. Pickering while speaking on the Bill yesterday.

Hon Pickering had risen to second the motion moved by Attorney General Dr. Christopher P. Malcolm as he tabled the bill before the House.

In making the observation and noting the significance of the Bill Deputy Premier Hon Pickering recalled the shameful state of the Virgin Islands (VI) as was alluded to in a casual conversation with a Justice sometime last year.

“He (a Judge) said that he was very surprised that a place like the [Virgin Islands] with such an advance legal system, especially talking about the Commercial Court…did not have its laws in electronic form, he was really surprised,” recalled Hon Pickering.

As it stands today legal practitioners exhort much time - which can be otherwise gainfully used - manually leafing through volumes of print materials to compile or gather needed information for use in the process of ensuring justice in the legal system is done.

“So Madam Speaker, the Law Revision Act will bring us in line with even that.” Hon Pickering alluded to sub-section 3:2 of the Act which says, “The Commissioner may prepare a revision under this act in printed and electronic form and in any other form as he may by order so direct.”

According to Hon Pickering interpretation of that section of the new act is that the VI is now coming of age and according to him, no one should be surprised. “In the practice of law, the lawyers don’t have to walk with those big bags anymore going to court to speak because everything is in electronic form… so we are just coming of age.”

Hon Pickering recalled the laws of the VI being referred to as a brand and as such everything necessary thing should be done to have it made current and applicable to today’s world.

With the Bill being opened for debate Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool was the only member who had risen. He said that he fully supported the Bill.

The members of the House spent a short time in Committee going through the Bill before they emerge and the Bill was passed.