>
> Banjul - The Attorney General and Secretary of State for Justice Pap
Cheyasin Secka has said that 'the inability or unwillingness of the private
bar to oblige the nation in its hour of need is a matter for serious re-
consideration.'
>
> Mr. Secka make this remark during the official launch of the second volume
of the Gambia Law Reports by the National Council for Law Reporting at the
Atlantic Hotel on Wednesday.
>
> The State Secretary said he could not miss the opportunity presented by the
launch 'to address the crisis of confidence that presently confronts the
judiciary.' The inadequacies of the judiciary he added were highlighted by
the Ebrima Barry affair.
>
> He noted that some critics had alleged the judiciary had been either too
slow to respond or had attempted to cover-up the Ebrima Barry issue. He said,
however, the attendant issue was 'the credibility of our justice delivery
system and the ability of the Attorney General's chambers to conduct the
prosecution with a publicly perceived sense of fairness.'
>
> It is for these reasons, he said, that the Bar Association and private
legal practitioners were asked to render their services to the nation 'so
that justice can be done to both the victim and the defendants.'
>
> He said the criminal trial of the accused must be concluded before the
Commission of Enquiry could consider the matter, which he said was necessary
for the Commission to be true to its terms of reference.
>
> SoS Secka also told those present that, as an interim measure, the
judiciary will now ensure that all district tribunals have scribes who should
be given salaries and provided with transport. He also said the scribes and
presiding chiefs were to be provided with periodic training and that a manual
would eventually be produced to guide the tribunals in their work.
>
> He disclosed that reform of the district tribunals envisages the exclusion
of criminal matters (and matters affecting the liberty of the subject) from
their jurisdiction. Such matters he said would be put before the magistrates'
court, which he observed, was 'better suited for the purpose'.
>
> Justice George Galaga King, chairman of the council, said that the Gambia
Law Report is an official document and will guide all court cases that will
be relevant to legal practitioners. He commended the Gambia Government,
United States Embassy, the British High Commission, the African Centre for
Democracy and Human Rights Studies, the African Society for International and
Comparative Law and others who contributed to the success of their work.
>
> A copy of the volume was presented to SoS Secka, Chief Justice Felix
Lartey, and Mr. Amadou Samba, who was represented by his sister.
>
> The master of the ceremonies was Surahata Janneh.
>
> culled from the independent.
>
> Ziz
>
>
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