Attorney General Dale Marshall has underscored the pressing need to address the backlog of criminal cases in the justice system, warning that delays have far-reaching consequences for both accused individuals and the wider public.
Speaking at a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) roundtable attended by eight attorneys general, Marshall highlighted the inefficiencies that have long plagued the region’s legal system. He acknowledged, however, that significant efforts have been made in recent years to tackle the issue.
The justice reform initiative, spearheaded by the UNDP with funding from the European Union, is designed to strengthen the institutional capacity of prosecutors, courts, prisons, and law enforcement agencies across the Caribbean.
Marshall pointed out that prolonged court delays have led many accused persons—not only in murder trials but across a wide range of criminal cases—to seek relief under constitutional provisions. This, he explained, often results in the state compensating individuals for delays in their trials, placing an additional financial burden on taxpayers.
“Our systems have not been efficient and have not been effective,” he stated. “The good thing is that we have seen a tremendous amount of effort in the last three or four years, both as a region and individually, to grapple with it.”
The Attorney General’s remarks reinforce ongoing discussions on the need for judicial reform and improved efficiency within the Caribbean’s legal framework.