Opening Address By His Excellency Alhaji Dr. Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh President Of The Republic Of The Gambia At The Official Opening Of The 2007/2008 Legal Year At The Law Courts Buildings, Banjul On 2nd December 2007.

Your Excellency, The vice President It Secretary of State for Womens’ Affairs.
 
The Hon. Speaker of the National Assembly My Lord, the Hon. Chief Justice My Lords the Judges of Superior courts Hon. Secretaries of State Hon. Members of the National Assembly Members of the Diplomatic and consular Corps Your Worships the Magistrates

Learned Members of the Cadi Courts. Members of the Legal Profession Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Parastatals

Venerable Imams, Members of the Supreme Islamic Council and Religious Leaders.

I am indeed very pleased to be here today to participate in these celebrations and to officially open the 2007/2008 Legal Year. It was my pleasure last year to preside over the centenary celebrations of the Cadi court system in these premises. My willingness to honour invitations from the judicial and legal sector is an indication of the importance my Government attaches to the sector.

A major step taken by my Government two years ago was to empower the judiciary to manage its financial, material and  human resources, as required under the Constitution, thereby ensuring that it achieves an autonomous status.

The 1997 Constitution introduced significant changes regarding  the judiciary. Comprehensive provisions were provided to facilitate the autonomy. The Judicial Service Commission was enlarged to include members of the legal sector. The Cadi Court system was redefined and the Cadi Appeals Panel established to hear appeals and sanitize the system of ensuring efficiency and expediency. Further legislative changes resulted In the establishment of other adjudicatory bodies dealing with specific issues. These include the Children’s Court, the Drugs Court and the Rent Tribunal, among others..

My Government has since 1994 invested heavily in developing the infrastructure of the Judiciary ensuring that facilities are available for the operations of the sector. These include: the Supreme Court building, the Banjul Magistrates and Cadi Courts complex, the Bundung Magistrates and Cadi Courts premises, the Regional High Courts and . the Judges’ Quarters at Basse, Brikama and Mansakonko.

In addition to the new structures just mentioned, my Government also completely refurbished the Kanifing Magistrate and Cadi Courts as well as the Brikama Magistrates Court.

Recognizing the importance of the legal profession to the socioeconomic development of a nation was the driving force that spurred my Government to establish the Law School at the University of the Gambia with a view to meeting the human resource needs of the sector. This institution will facilitate the evolution and enrichment of adequate local jurisprudence and ensure legal intellectual growth.

Another very significant Government agenda is our drive to indigenize the bench by 2011. We hope to do this by providing attractive, sustainable and conducive conditions and working environment. As you already know, the process of  indigenization has commenced with the appointment, two years ago, of the first Gambian to head the Judiciary and of course the recent appointment of three Gambians as High Court Judges.

As a mark of goodwill and recognition, I have honoured two senior private practitioners with distinguished National Medals during the last Investiture programme! Symbolic as these decorations might be, they signify an acknowledgement by  Government of the contributions that private lawyers and legal practitioners have made in our development process. 

In terms of support, my Government has never failed or wavered in our responsibility to provide the judiciary with all the necessary funding, logistics and vehicles, when required.

My Government’s commitment, at the national level, to fight and eradicate poverty is abundantly evident. We have formulated and are implementing well calculated policies and plans for the realization of Vision 2020, the Silicon Valley Project and other development blueprints.

It is indeed crucial, in the attainment of our development aspirations, that we have in place an effective judicial and legal system that is very clear in its overall vision and strategy and one that would ensure access to justice, upholds the rule of law and guarantees human rights. My Government has therefore adopted the LEGAL SECTOR STRATEGY 2007-2011 as an integral part of the Gambia POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY PAPER (PRSP) to drive the Sector Vision. The main focus of the Sector Strategy is on the People, on Values, on Reform, on Quality Services and’ Public Relations. The key result areas of the Strategy are:

Sector Institutions, its Human Resources, the Legal and Regulatory framework, Legal Services and Education, use of ICT and Infrastructure development.

Therefore, on this auspicious occasion, I call on all the members of the legal fraternity and all other stakeholders to renew their commitment and rededicate themselves by redoubling their efforts towards the development of the legal sector. The sector has a noble mission indeed, which is “to advance the course of justice and the rule of law by ensuring free, fair and speedy dispensation of justice by an independent judiciary and efficient delivery system with highly trained and committed staff that will command the support and confidence of the people.” This mission will not be accomplished unless all of you work purposefully together in total unison and in partnership with Government and other stakeholders.

On that note, I have the singular honour and privilege to declare the 2007/2008 Legal year open.

I thank you for your very kind attention.