Antigua and Barbuda is preparing a major overhaul of its justice system as part of efforts to clear the long-standing backlog of criminal cases.
Attorney General Sir Steadroy Benjamin said a series of reform bills will be brought to Parliament in early 2026, aiming to streamline how cases progress through the courts.
Speaking at the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and UNDP PACE Justice Lecture on Thursday, he outlined a package of legislative and administrative changes.
The first bill to be introduced will be the Voluntary Bail of Indictment Act, followed by legislation to formalise plea bargaining. The new measure would allow the Director of Public Prosecutions to send selected matters directly to the High Court, bypassing procedures that often slow cases down.
Sir Steadroy said the move would “directly confront procedural delays” and improve the efficiency of criminal prosecutions.
The government also intends to establish a Public Defender’s Department to provide legal support for defendants unable to afford private counsel.
Administratively, a criminal master will be appointed to manage pre-trial matters, allowing High Court judges to focus on trials. Additional acting magistrates and acting High Court judges are also being considered to ease immediate pressures on the system.
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Well, well, me well! It’s nice to now that these politicians do take note of the electorate sometimes.
The judiciary has needed an overhaul for sometime now. The backlog and delays of court cases was not in keeping in a democratic country like ours.
Attorney General Steadroy Benjamin had to act.
Week in and week out we hear about some serious court case being delayed or postponed (and wasn’t there a recent postponement because Wendel Alexander was too busy because he had a major backlog of pending court cases?).
This overhaul is long overdue, and Benjamin is going to address the issue.
Justice delayed is justice denied.
I just feel for the victims and family members who has to go to through this long drawn out process waiting for a fair resolution.
3-5 years at times to hear a murder charge is rediculous. And these criminals know this, so they milk the system until they are eventually released for lack of evidence or a major witness pass away,or something to that effect.
When on earth have any Antiguan and Barbuda attorney file a motion to dismiss for speedy trial violation?
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