A broken judicial system in VI: No justice, lack of Judges
However, the evidence is very much the opposite. The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) under both a UK Commissioner and the Governor has been at an all-time low. The Police Commissioner himself, Mark Collins, was publicly accused by his own police officers of 55 counts of corruption.
Court needs investigating for its practices
The court system is another area where there are troubling signs that residents are not getting justice and their rights continue to be blatantly violated, with no end in sight and nowhere to turn to outside of racking up huge attorney fees to defend one’s self. While attention has been paid to the commercial side of the courts, with adequate judges and in some instances to the Criminal side, notwithstanding they are short of Judges, legal matters and the right to a fair and speedy trial in civil matters are very unpleasant for the little man and women seeking hearings and justice.
Since the abrupt departure of Judge Sonya Young in July 2024, with no replacement in sight (Judge Heather Felix-Evans should be acting soon), legal matters having to do with civil matters (cases that Judge Young had) are allegedly still opened as many wait on judgments, persons suing the Government, and other parties, have been left in limbo.
Even a Judicial Review hearing cannot be heard. This is another violation because the rule gives a 30-day hearing time frame, and many residents and even persons incarcerated must wait for months, sometimes years. It also means that residents cannot file for an emergency hearing in a timely manner, giving the state the right to come after them arbitrarily and sometimes with trumped-up changes.
Only the Lawyers getting paid
Many Attorneys who visit the jurisdiction from overseas on behalf of clients are often told the cases are postponed or adjourned as there are no Judges to hear them. This means that many people are stuck with huge legal bills while waiting for months and months for justice.
There are also many inmates for over five years at HM Prison at Balsam Ghut, Tortola on remand and without signs of a trial. This is another blatant violation of their rights and fundamental freedoms.
It is unclear what Governor Daniel Pruce, who has this portfolio, is doing to address these vexing concerns, with these legal tyranny experienced by many who are accused, along with their families in the Territory.
It was just last week that one HMP inmate Nyron A. Erickson, through his attorney Huge Wildman, cried out about his client being held illegally with no charges against him, another example of the pattern and history of injustice that is practiced in the British Overseas Territory of the Virgin Islands.
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15 Responses to “A broken judicial system in VI: No justice, lack of Judges”
Who is to be blamed for this situation? There are sitting judges available for the Criminal Court, but each time they come to Court, all you have is Reporting Matters. Why aren't trials being listed? There are matters for retrial sent back by the Court of Appeal and to this day, they can't get on the Criminal List. Who should be held responsible for this sad state of affairs?
There are currently TWO, not one, but TWO judges assigned to the Criminal Court and still the court is being run inefficiently. Who is to be held responsible for not giving accused persons their day in court? I will say one thing, it's not the Court itself, I can assure you of that.
Members of the British Virgin Island Bar Association threatened to “sue the shirt off my back” if the publication went to press and the threat was backed up by a Court Order banning the publication.