Straight from the heart

BY Olu Walrond

The justice system in Barbados is failing the citizens of this country. If those whose duty it is to fix it didn’t know that, then the story and cries of a helpless woman on one of the radio call ins should spur them into action.

What kind of justice system is this we have in which a woman can be awarded damages by a judicial officer of the court but has to suffer without a cent of that money for years because of ambiguity in the judgement as to who should pay it. And it seems nobody is in a hurry to clear up that ambiguity.

Several questions immediately spring to mind. Was there doubt in the mind of her attorney as to who should pay? If so, was it not in order for him to seek clarity from the presiding officer?
Is the judicial officer still accessible for a clarification of his judgement? Has this matter been brought to the attention of the chief justice.
In the name of justice and compassion, how could people sit by for so many years and tolerate the grave injustice meted out to this woman.

Is this how a justice system in a civilised society should function, that our courts can give a judgement and then the defendant can say, Well, we don’t know whose duty it is to pay, and that is the end of the matter. So what is she supposed to do, hire somebody with a Collins?

We’re told not to take justice into our own hands. But when justice fails us, what do we do? Whom do we turn to? Because it seems like there’s no one to turn to.

This woman’s case is just one. There are several other victims of this justice system, some of whom have gone to the great beyond without getting their due from the system.

Justice is not supposed to make victims of the innocent party. If it has not been referred to him yet, this blatant miscarriage of justice needs to be brought to the attention of the Chief Justice and resolved one of the hallmarks of our humanity.

Indeed, our Christianity, if we say we are Christians, is the love and care of the poor and the helpless. Jesus taught us that let those who have the power show their humanity and Christianity towards this helpless woman.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the author(s) do not represent the official position of The Bajan Observer.com