Overloaded, snail-like and distrusted
Law and disorder in 2019
Ban buggery laws!
In 201b9 a lawsuit was filled challenging Dominica's buggery law under sections 14 and 16 of the Sexual Offences Act.
If successful, this will revolutionise the way the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) community here is treated by the State.
A Dominican gay man filed the landmark case challenging the country's laws that criminalise "buggery" and "gross indecency".
The man, whose name is being withheld for his protection, contended that sections 14 and 16 of the Sexual Offences Act violate multiple fundamental rights of all Dominicans, particularly those of LGBT people.
Not Guilty!
A jury of six women and three men acquitted Chester Myuja Bedminister, a 48-year old Grand Bay man of the charge of murder in the death of Presley Priscus Fontaine, a fellow native on Saturday October 24, 2015 in Grand Bay.
Looting suit stuck in law system
Filled in March 2018, a suit, brought by eight businesses demanding EC$3million, against the Commissioner of Police, the Minister of Justice, Immigration & National Security and the Attorney General of Dominica is stuck in the system, one business owner who filed the suit said in 2019.
Recently lawyers have complained about that slow court system. Given the backlog of cases, the Dominica Bar Association (DBA) through the Chief Justice made request for an additional judge but the issue at hand is the availability of facilities in Dominica. A Dominican lawyer said: "We are slowly grinding to a halt…the sound of silence is deafening."
In 2019 lawyers here again expressed dissatisfaction at the state of the court system especially the civil court.
Dominica has a new resident judge
With effect from 1st September 2019, Dominican Justice Wynante Adrien-Roberts was the new judge assigned to Dominica by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.
She replaced Justice Victoria Charles-Clarke, a St. Lucian, who has been moved to Grenada. Justice Charles- Clarke was assigned to Dominica, three years ago, in September 2016.
Election Court Battle Begins
After months of protests, marches, and clashes with police failed, seven Dominicans applied to the High Court to postpone the December 6th general election. That too failed.