By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

IN A hard-hitting sermon, Archdeacon Harry Bain told members of the judiciary and the legal profession at a special service to mark the opening of the legal year in Grand Bahama on Friday that “the legal system is broken” and “spiralling out of control”.

The system needs fixing, he said. In addition to trial delays, the backlog of cases and outstanding warrants, he said that there has been some discord among legislators and the Commissioner of Police, as well as critical exchanges between the Attorney General and the Bahamas Bar Association president.

He also stated that lawyers are coming to court unprepared for cases, and delay the legal process by seeking too many adjournments.

“It is an ineffective and broken system that allows the abuse of trial delays, unchecked outstanding warrants, hundreds of pending court matters here in Freeport alone untouched,” said the clergyman. “We are promoting crime if we allow criminals to escape the system or we breathe criminals when the innocent are denied justice.”

Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson, Chief Justice Sir Hartman Longley, Members of the Bahamas Court of Appeal and of the Judiciary and lawyers attended the annual church service at the Pro-Cathedral of Christ the King. After the service they marched back to the Garnet Levarity Justice Centre for the ceremonial inspection of the police guard and the presentation of the hierarchy of judges.

“The Bahamas heavily depends on a strong and efficient legal system,” said Venerable Bain, who noted that the country and thousands of people are affected by various legal matters such as murder cases, major corporate lawsuits, a traffic ticket, jury duty and other related court matters. “We need people who are leaders and labourers within the system to give their hearts to God. And to be committed to a high standard of public service and not have an attitude that you are doing the public a favour.”

Venerable Bain also touched on the poor appearance and condition of the courthouse in Freeport. He said that the surrounding and working conditions there should be a priority. “It is an embarrassment to see the condition of that building - inside and outside. The system is broken. Those who should be working on behalf of the people need to stop promising and actually repair the sad physical state of the Garnet Levarity Justice Centre in Freeport,” he stressed.

Mr Bain also said that challenges persist for those who must travel from Abaco, Bimini and other northern islands to seek justice. “The legal system must give more keen consideration to our legal practitioners, victims, plaintiffs and defendants. I am appealing to your hearts to be a part of the solutions for change and improvement in the system begins with each of you,” he said.

Venerable Bain said that fixing the legal system requires the help of everyone, from those in the legal profession and members of the public. He noted that the Bahamian society is going through a dramatic upheaval due to a change in morality, which has led to social decay and a crisis of lawlessness.

“There is an attitude that is developing among our people that they are above the law, or where by their actions they show that they have little or no regard for the laws of the land,” saying that it is evident in the country’s crime statistics of record-breaking number of murders and other crimes generally taking place in society.