Security for judges & magistrates must be addressed-Justice Charles
Speaking exclusively to Virgin Islands News Online recently, Justice Charles, who will be taking up a senior position in the Bahamas Supreme Court, stated “Security is an issue, we are targets, we are handing sentences…I would say that we have been fortunate that nothing has happened or our security has not been compromised.”
She pinpointed to one trial that involved Denis Campbell and Andrew Milton in 2009. The two Jamaicans were found guilty of throwing Dorcas Rhule from a balcony of a four storey building in 2006. Security for that trial was intense and some of the witnesses, under the witness protection programme, were flown in from overseas to testify.
“During that trial I was not scared, but I was concerned but the court needs to be secured. We are just fortunate in the BVI. It is a problem with the risks involved with our jobs; I don’t see why our security should be compromised,” she emphasised.
According to her, there are standards set by the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court whereby every judge should at all times have an armed officer and his or her residence should be protected as well.
“When I say judge I mean Magistrates also. We here have not met those criteria. When I go to the Bahamas I will have an armed driver, not here where my driver has nothing in his hand.”
“We are fortunate here and I must thank the people of the BVI and those sent to prison for not doing anything out of the ordinary. Persons who are high risk like us, to ensure we do our job without fear and favour should at all time feel safe in our homes,” she added.
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