VI pays '2.7 times more in court fees than other jurisdictions' under ECSC- Daniel F. Davies
VI paying 2.7X more in court fees- Davies
Mr Davies, who unsuccessfully contested the 2023 General Elections as an Independent At Large Representative, is arguing that the VI pays 2.7 times more in court fees than other jurisdictions under the Supreme Court.
“For example, a notice of application is $42 USD (including the portal administrative fees) in the BVI. In Antigua and Barbuda it is $42EC. Why is the BVI paying more for filings for the same services?” Mr Davies asked.
Further, Mr Davies, an Attorney At Law with Silk Legal, said despite there being online filings, the VI is still required to print physical copies for the court.
“There is little to no point in having the ELP, if physical copies are still required and we are now required to pay more in fees than we were when there were paper filings.”
‘Highly unjust’
With respect to the filing of bundles, Mr Davies said it is “highly unjust that we have to pay for the filing of a bundle of documents, when the documents contained therein have already been paid for.”
He reasoned that, given that it is online filing, it also makes little to no sense that different documents attract different fees.
“It shouldn't make a difference to the court as to what document is filed, given that the court office is not required to do anything or even print the filed document.”
Mr Davies, who came to prominence as a lawyer representing House of Assembly members who were not ministers before the United Kingdom (UK) sponsored Commission of Inquiry in 2022, has confirmed to our news centre that he has raised the matter with the Complaints Commissioner.
“I have made a complaint to the Complaints Commissioner regarding the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court,” Mr Davies stated.
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16 Responses to “VI pays '2.7 times more in court fees than other jurisdictions' under ECSC- Daniel F. Davies”
Something must be done about that as well.
This place ain’t ready for the heavy lifting.