by Adrian Gibson
- Why are Magistrates still handwriting their notes? Why don’t attorneys have the benefit of a transcript from Magistrate’s Court? Why are attorneys and their clients subjected to the notes of a Magistrate?
- Why has a court reporter not been assigned to each court? And, if there are shortages simply hire more reporters.
- Again, I ask … why are the registries in such a horrendous state where files cannot be found or must be tracked down? Why are they still dealing with lots and lots of paper? When will the registry become computerised?
- Will you support a constitutional amendment to remove the Attorney General from the Cabinet of The Bahamas and guarantee his/her independence?
- Would you support an independent Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions that operates separate and apart from the Office of the Attorney General with its own budget?
- When will an investigation be carried out and charges brought regarding the Auditor General’s damning reports of theft at the Road Traffic Department, at Bahamas Customs, at the Post Office, at Urban Renewal, at the Passport Office? Will anyone be held accountable?
- There is a deficiency of commercial and civil judges on the Bench. Certainly, you must be aware of that and so must the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, right? And, yes, the PM too.
- What is the current status of the much promised Public Defenders Office?
- In light of the breakdown at Baha Mar, what – if any – role did you play in the preparation of the Heads of Agreement? Did you or your law firm at any time represent any of the principals of Baha Mar?
- What are your views on the various conflict of interest allegations relative to your involvement, as government negotiator or representative, in matters concerning Baha Mar, developer Sarkis Izmirlian’s filing for bankruptcy and negotiations with the China Export Import Bank?
- Is your office conducting an investigation into the disappearance of files related to extraditions cases from the OAG?
- How do you plan to handle claims in your office given the number of files that have been misplaced?
- Is there any legislation proposed to protect witnesses and encourage persons to come forward (outside of this so-called witness care unit)?
- Considering your touting of the swift justice scheme, why was a training session only conducted last year? Is one in line for this year?
- Why does the public not yet know what national security issue led to a nolle prosequi being entered by then acting AG Jerome Fitzegerald on your former clients’ behalf?
- Retired Justice Joseph Strachan was appointed to conduct what your office referred to as a “thorough” independent review into the cause of the delay in the release of a report on the ramifications of a Rubis gas leak in the Marathon constituency in 2013. Where is Justice Strachan’s report of the review the OAG said was intended to “ensure that the processes to support future investigations and enquiries conducted in the public interest” are managed according to “international best practices as well as to ensure timely disclosure when these reports are going to be made public”?Did you, Madam AG, advise the Cabinet not to release the report? Are we due yet for at least a “quarterly report” on the Rubis situation?
- Can we have it please? Hopefully there is not a need to appoint another retired Justice to tell you whether the Strachan report should be released to us.
I would like to see how fast she issues a press release in response …
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First published in the The Tribune under the byline, Young Man's View, here…
