Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter

MAJOR JUSTICE stakeholders have agreed that Jamaicans have lost confidence in the justice system.

Paula Llewellyn, the director of public prosecutions (DPP), yesterday admitted at a Gleaner Editors' Forum that public confidence in the system is not where it out ought to be.

"It ought to be very strong. It ought to be of a character and nature where the rule of law has 100 per cent respect from members of the public," Llewellyn said.

The Editors' Forum was held to discuss issues of justice reform.

Protect people's rights

Defence attorney Deborah Martin; executive director of human rights lobby group Jamaicans For Justice, Carolyn Gomes; and president of the Resident Magistrates' Association, Marlene Malahoo Forte, also opined that public confidence in the justice system was low.

Martin, a member of the Advocates' Association of Jamaica, told the forum that confidence might not be restored in the justice system until the rights of Jamaicans are protected.

"Because of our dissatisfaction with the way things are now, we are continuing to do what we have been doing for a very long time," she said.

She also described as a knee-jerk reaction, a proposal by Prime Minister Bruce Golding to extend the detention period of criminal suspects.

"It is this whittling away of the rights of people which I find is contributing to the loss of confidence," Martin said.

Depart from self-interest

Meanwhile, Llewellyn said there was a perception among the public that only accused persons have rights.

"I wish we could reach a point where we all depart from looking through the prism of self-interest," Llewellyn said, adding that it is important that all concerned work to build confidence in the justice system.

Gomes said among the lower socio-economic classes, there was a lack of confidence in the court system and it is getting worse.

"I think we are at the stage where not very many in the upper socio-economic class expect they will get justice, even in civil proceedings," she said.

Meanwhile, Malahoo Forte, a resident magistrate, told the forum that the justice system has suffered because of a culture of delay.

"I think the delay in the system has eroded the public confidence tremendously," Malahoo Forte said.

She cited a lack of proper police investigation and the slow pace at which they complete their files as major contributors.

"I think we have too many cases being sent without any proper case management and case-management techniques being implemented," Malahoo Forte said.

She referred to the "culture of delay" at the Bar as "indescribably intolerable".