The Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has mounted a call to the government of the Virgin Islands to take seriously and act with expediency on matters relating to criminal justice legislation. The appeal was made by Principal Crown Counsel Ms Tiffany R. Scatliffe on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the 2015-2016 law year. Photo: VINO

Justice Vicki Ann Ellis pointed out a number of legislative progress made even as she called for more to be done. She said that while they have heard of the busy legislative agenda to be undertaken in this Law Year by the Legislative Assembly, 'We are also hoping to finally see online publication of the laws of this territory, Honourable Attorney General, this is an invaluable tool which is an indispensable tool to the modern legal system which exists in the BVI. So we hope this can finally be addressed as a matter of priority.' Photo: VINO/File

The appeal was made by Principal Crown Counsel Ms Tiffany R. Scatliffe on the occasion of the opening ceremony of the 2015-2016 law year. Ms Scatliffe, who spoke on behalf of the DPP Mr Wayne Rajbansie who was unavoidably absent, directed her plea to the government of the day and by extension the Members of the Honourable House of Assembly of the VI.

During her remarks, Ms Scatliffe said the office of the DDP is of the view that there is a dire need for the review, possible revamping and consolidation of the criminal justice legislation to make it more in sync with the peculiar requirements of the Virgin Islands.

“We share the concern that many pieces of the criminal legislation as they now stand do not effectively or efficiently meet the needs of the territory at this particular juncture,” said the Principal Crown Council Scatliffe.

“And we wait and we pray and we urge then that the government of the day will make this a legislative priority.”

Legislative reform and review is something that is not isolated to the VI judicial system as the Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC), Her Ladyship Dame Janice M. Pereira DBE, spoke of similar matters during her opening address.

Meanwhile, Justice Vicki Ann Ellis pointed out a number of legislative progress made even as she called for more to be done. She said that while they have heard of the busy legislative agenda to be undertaken in this Law Year by the Legislative Assembly, “We are also hoping to finally see online publication of the laws of this territory, Honourable Attorney General, this is an invaluable tool which is an indispensable tool to the modern legal system which exists in the BVI. So we hope this can finally be addressed as a matter of priority."