Budget cut will be setback for improvement of judicial services - Sykes

Chief Justice Bryan Sykes is lobbying the government to rescind its decision to cut the judiciary's budget, in light of what he has described as distressing news that a key project – the Judicial Case Management System (JCMS) - might not receive the expected financial support.

Justice Sykes, who spoke on Monday at the swearing-in of the New President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Patrick Brooks, at King's House, noted that the courts are making significant improvements in key areas, but affirmed that the issue of funding remains a challenge.

He’s arguing that it's time for a rethink of how the judiciary is funded, so that the court services are prioritized in the budget, and any reduction in the budget "should really come when all else has been tried..."

Justice Sykes said the JCMS, which is intended to foster greater interconnectivity between the courts, could be affected by budget cuts, if there isn't a reversal of this decision.

Manchester

The Chief Justice is also concerned that the continued holding of sittings of  the Manchester Parish Court at rented premises places the court in a precarious position.

The parish court was extensively damaged by fire in November last year.

Hearings are being temporarily held at rented space at James Plaza in Mandeville.

Justice Sykes said it was imperative that funding be identified to build a new courthouse soon, as it is not proper for the court to have a landlord.

In that regard, he cited a scenario in which a court "makes a decision that the landlord is not too pleased with."

In such circumstances, he said, "the landlord may say, 'well let's get rid of this tenant!'"