THE GENERATION 2000 (G2K) group of young business persons associated with the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), says Government's plan to reform the justice system is a step in the right direction.
In a statement released yesterday, G2K president Senator Christopher Tufton, said the justice system had suffered from neglect for too long.
"We are relieved to hear the Government finally accepting what has been an obvious fact for a long time, that the proper and effective administration of justice in the country has been hampered and undermined by a litany of deficiencies that have accumulated over the years," said Senator Tufton.
On Friday, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson announced that restructuring the justice system would be a priority for the governing People's National Party administration in 2006-2007.
He said a five-year programme would seek to improve critical areas such as access, quality and speed. The programme is to be overseen by a reform unit within the Ministry of Justice.
Senator Tufton says, among his organisation's main concerns, G2K would like to see the system modernised with the computerisation of cases, increased staff at the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and improved legal representation for poor litigants.
Jamaica's justice system has been severely criticised in recent years, especially with the advent of human rights organisations such as Jamaicans For Justice. Advocacy groups have questioned 'not guilty' verdicts in high-profile cases such as the Braeton and Kraal shootings in March 2001 and May 2003, respectively.
Both incidents involved officers from the controversial and now disbanded police outfit, the Crime Management Unit.
