Marie Saine Firdaus, attorney general and secretary of state for Justice, has said that the Gambian judiciary has been successful in prosecuting criminals to maintain a peaceful society, where law and order is cherished.

The attorney general made these remarks yesterday, while delivering her statement on the occasion marking the start of the legal year at the law court buildings, Banjul. She commended the national law enforcement agencies for the support given to her Chambers in the justice delivery.

However, the AG stressed that the limited number of magistrates and judges in lower and higher bench has affected the performance of the administration of justice, especially at the High Court.

Mrs  Saine-Firdaus acknowledged the importance of witnesses, as it is their evidence upon which cases are won or lost. She used the occasion to call on all lovers of freedom and self-reliance to support the the law programme in the University of The Gambia.

SoS Saine-Firdaus said development partners of the Gambian judiciary have played an instrumental role to improve service delivery at the Attorney General’s Chambers and the overall justice delivery system in the country.

“The World Bank Capacity Building  and Economic Management project supported the institutionalisation of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and training of members in private practice and those at the public bar, and the bench, in ADR,” she said. She then announced that the ADR will be in full swing by January 2008.

She added that despite the success, there is still a room for improvement to carry out functions more efficiently to the satisfaction all. The Justice secretary of state confirmed her department’s need for qualified and experienced legal practitioners trained in different fields and specialities to meet its expectations. She called on her colleagues, both at home and abroad, to contribute their quoter in national development and acknowledged the support of President Jammeh to the AG’s Chambers.

Chief Justice

Abdou Karim Savage, the first Gambian Chief Justice of the Gambia, said the judiciary is poised to bring justice at the door-step of every Gambian. He said there will be permanent judges in all the high courts in the major towns in all regions around the country to avoid the delay of court cases .He called on members of the Bar Association to join the bench and AG chambers  to work together in national building.

He outline the significant success registered by the judiciary such the establishment of the children’s court, the ADR secretariat, drug courts at Brikama. According to him the rules for the Cardi court has been drafted and will soon be reviewed,the electronic records filing system and the judicial service bill will impact positively in the justice delivery system.

The Chief Justice then quoted President Kennedy when he said “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”. He emphasised that money is not everything, “more important is service to your country, we need lawyers who can sacrifice the big earnings in the private and instead service their country for far less money as magistrates and judges”. He ended by saying that service to one’s country brings its own rewards.

Amie Bensouda

For Part Amie Bensouda, the first female president of the Gambia Bar Association, said the introduction of the Alternative Dispute Resolution with other mediators has  significant impacted in the justice delivery system. She pledged that the Gambia Association’s support to the new law faculty of the University of The Gambia, noting that there is a need for resources for the for it. Mrs Bensouda expressed concern over the fact that the backlog of cases,especially  at the high court.

She noted cases at magistrate’s court level has improved  due to  the appointment of new magistrates. According to her the effective administration of justice is one of the corner stones of peace and stability. She said government should ensure that the service of principles are respected.She called for the need to give attention to the disadvantaged and less privileged and to protect the rights of individual who wish to secure lawyers of their choices. Mrs Bensouda called on law enforcement agencies to cooperate with lawyers in the cause of justice delivery.