New Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court law Term opened in the OECS

File Photo: Chief Justice His Lordship Mr. Justice Hugh Rawlins

ZIZ News…Sept. 13 2010 – A church service and a guard of honor formed part of the activities to usher in the new Law Term of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.

The High Court at the Lee Llewellyn Moore Judicial and Legal Services Complex was filled with members of the legal profession along with senior government officials and invited guests.

The opening was preceded by the traditional Church Service at the Wesley Methodist Church on Seaton Street in Basseterre where rev Dr. Wicherly Gumbs delivered the sermon in which he called on the legal fraternity to do their part in ensuring that the populace in St. Kitts and Nevis are educated about the constitution and the law of the land.

He said the students of today know more about the history of the United States of America than the laws which govern them in St. Kitts and Nevis.

Meanwhile Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, His Lordship Mr. Justice Hugh Rawlins, delivered an address from the bench in which he stated that a key part of their focus this year will be the improvement in the use of technology to bring about efficiency in the court system. His Lordship the Chief Justice also addressed the progress made in the Halls of Justice Project which he said has made tremendous strides over the past Law Year. He said in this project state of the art courts will be constructed in all of the countries in the Eastern Caribbean here working committees have already been established.

Among the dignitaries attending this morning’s ceremony was the Deputy Governor General for Nevis His Honor Mr. Eustace John, Prime Minister the Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas, Attorney General the Hon. Patrice Nisbett, President of the OECS Bar Association Tapley Seaton QC, President of the local Bar Association Charles Wilkin QC and speaker of the National Parliament the Hon. Curtis Martin.

The project is financed by grant funds from the Caribbean Development Bank and during this law year it will move into the final stages.

The High Court in each of the Member States and Territories will officially open for hearing of cases on Thursday 16th September. However during that week, the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal will sit in St. Kitts.