Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson yesterday maintained her position that the criminal justice system is being improved despite threats from lawyers to sue her over the removal of court reporters from the Magistrate’s Court.

Speaking to reporters outside Cabinet, Mrs. Maynard-Gibson declined to comment on the lawsuit because she had not yet seen it. Nonetheless, she said her priority remains repairing the current system.

“My team and I are determined to do everything that is within our power to ensure that justice is seen to be done in The Bahamas and the system that is broken – the result of inordinate delays, adjournments etc, that are impacting both accused and victims –is fixed,” the attorney general said. “We are expending all of our energies fixing a system that has been broken. We are determined on behalf of the Bahamian people that the system should be fixed.”

The attorney general maintained that the decision now to have court reporters in the lower courts is out of her hands.
Criminal attorneys have complained that despite being told that court reporters could be available during proceedings at the Magistrate’s Court, their requests thus far, have gone unanswered.

“The matter of the placement of stenographers in the Magistrate’s Court is for the chief justice and the chief magistrate, however, they exercise their discretion, as attorney general, I have complete confidence in it,” Mrs. Maynard-Gibson said.
Mrs. Maynard-Gibson also downplayed suggestions that the issue has caused public backlash.

“We expect that digital recording will be available as it is in modern courts all over the world by September of this year and I’m sure the Bahamian people are looking forward to that,” she said. “I have not heard any backlash from the victims of crime who wish to have their matters heard expeditiously – that’s who I’m working for.”