BVI News

Too many adjournments | Magistrate wants team of cops created to serve warrants

Magistrate Baptiste-Dabreo

Magistrate Ayanna Baptiste-DaBreo wants the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) to organise a team of its officers and attach them to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to serve warrants.

Baptiste-DaBreo made the call on last week while noting that the RVIPF’s prosecutions department is already overwhelmed with other duties such as helping to run the affairs of the court.

She said they understandably have limited time to issue court warrants. The magistrate said a number of matters on the court’s list have had to be continuously adjourned because these warrants are not being served.

“It is a disservice,” she said, adding that the end result is the court’s list being clogged up with matters.

“I’m tired of adjourning matters. I am tired of it,” a seemingly frustrated magistrate said.

She said most of the matters were simple ones that should be on the court’s list no more than six months.

In response, Crown Counsel Nick Saunders promised to approach the Director of Public Prosecutions Kim Hollis on the matter.

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5 Comments

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  1. Smh says:

    Amen!!!it’s horrible,something couldn’t happen now the case wouldn’t call until 2 pr more years has passed, i don’t think that’s reasonable, these cases should be called no more than a year later so it can be fresh in people minds.

  2. Smoker 4 Lyfe says:

    they had me in their system for some bush for almost 2 years only to charge a lil fine

  3. Shorty says:

    Maybe the courts need to start practising three strike rules. If a case is called three times and no one has been served case dismissed. Same should go when prosecutors and defence are not ready to proceed with trial cause police officer handling the case change units and he off today and all the other nonsense case gets adjourned for constantly.

  4. Diaspora says:

    Justice delayed is justice denied. Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere. Unnecessary delays are an injustice, for both plaintiffs and defendants have rights and lives to live. The uncertain delays impacts both adversely, Some may say don’t do the crime so as avoid the ordeal and injustice. That is pure idealism, not realism. Justices, magistrates……etc have jobs because residents violate laws. Jurists must see their positions as more than a job.

  5. ok then says:

    hire me for the job i’m willing and able

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