The Office of the DPP 2011 report stated that hiring restrictions presented challenges for the office to ensure the most effective strategic management of available resources so that the services provided by the Office would not be compromised. Photo: VINO

The report states, “In common with other public sector organisations, the ODPP was subject to the Government’s decision to restrict recruitment in the period under review.”

The report continued, “This presented challenges for the office to ensure the most effective strategic management of available resources so that the services provided by the Office would not be compromised.”

The ODPP report further noted that minor setbacks can occur, due to the close knit BVI community, in finding a prosecutor within the ODPP to prosecute certain cases.

There was also mention of the loss of the services of one of the Office’s most experienced attorneys in the person of Senior Crown Counsel Mrs Candace Raphael-DeJonge.

Optimism was expressed in a note that the remaining members of staff were working together and the conclusion that there was a “bright light at the end of the tunnel”. Gratitude was expressed for her guidance to junior prosecutors during her tenure.

The report added that the need for experienced staff has caused the ODPP to hire former DPP Mr Terrence Williams and other attorneys when the need arises, it also thanked them for their services as well.

The ODPP was hopeful that ongoing legal training would continue and also that this would boost the performance as well as add to the experience of the legal staff.