Greetings and Salutations:

I am proud to stand before you today to mark the opening of this important national institution– The Office of the Public Defender. With the creation of this office, my government’s commitment to executing a multifaceted strategy in the fight against crime and to providing equal access to justice takes a critical step forward.

Just last week, the Commissioner of Police announced the most significant reduction in serious crime since 2004—a 26% decline. On the same day, the Attorney-General revealed that since 2012, through the Swift Justice Initiative, operating in the 10 criminal courts that can sit concurrently, we have seen conviction rates double, an increase in the amount of cases disposed of by the Supreme Court and a significant reduction in the time it takes to present voluntary bills of indictment.

Today we stand at an intersection where, uniquely, a decrease in serious crimes, a rise in conviction rates and an increase in how swiftly we dispose of trials are all happening together. We are moving in the right direction.

My government has taken a holistic approach to addressing the challenge of crime and the opening of the Office of the Public Defender is a part of this strategy.

We cannot only rely on the fear of punishment to keep our communities safe. Our security also depends on an investment in capacity building, infrastructure, crime prevention, rehabilitation and the continued strengthening of our justice system.

Urban Renewal is an ongoing effort to transform our communities and provide opportunities for those who need support and empowerment. This initiative has played a key role in the reduction of crime.

As the Attorney-General has noted, we have increased the number of criminal courts and equipped those courts, as well as the court reporting unit and the Bahamas Department of Corrections with advanced information technology resources. This has expanded our capacity try cases and improved collaboration among justice system stakeholders.

Through our Citizen Security and Justice Programme, we have devoted $20 million in resources to violent crime prevention in New Providence, youth employability and employment training, the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders and to addressing the inefficiencies in the administration of justice, in order prosecute crimes successful and in a timely manner.

In 2012, the Office of the Attorney-General concluded that 16% of trials did not proceed because defence counsel was unable to appear in court, while another 16% stalled because the defendant was unable to secure counsel.

We have always provided attorneys for defendants who lacked the resources to hire their own through the Crown Brief system. Indeed, the Defence Bar must be commended for the exceptional burden of cases that they have carried. Unfortunately, the limited number of defence counsel available created scheduling conflicts causing delays and regular adjournments cost the Bahamian people hundreds of thousands of dollars in extra fees.

With the opening of this office, defendants who cannot afford defence counsel will be represented by a cadre of experienced attorneys dedicated solely to ensuring that the promise of equal justice for all Bahamians is realized. And, by building on the promise of equal justice for all, we will also lessen delays in trials and continue our reduction of the criminal case backlog, saving the Bahamian people thousands of dollars in the administration of justice.

These improvements are not merely symbolic, but are at heart of why this office is so important for all of us. Tackling the criminal case backlog and reducing delays amounts to more criminals being brought to justice, victims and the families of victims finding peace, and the exoneration of innocent men.

We are actively working toward a justice system where those accused of committing crime are not forced to remain on remand for years because of delays and adjournments, troubled by the uncertainty of their fate. I look forward to the day when a Public Defender can be assigned at the moment of arrest, remaining with their client through the entire course of their trial, as is the case in other jurisdictions.

Greater efficiency has a compounding effect. Judges and prosecutors will have time to try more cases and the savings this office will create can be reinvested to continue our efforts to strengthen the justice system.
We have closely examined models from around our region and the United States, which has informed the current structure of the Office of the Public Defender. Through our research and extensive consultation, we concluded that this office should start as an independent non-profit, allowing us to monitor and evaluate its operations so as to make strategic decisions about its future legislative framework.

Of course, this necessitated the formation of a qualified, experienced and enthusiastic executive board to guide its development.

Retired Justice Joseph Strachan, who serves as Chairman of this board, is a fount of invaluable institutional knowledge and it is a privilege to have his leadership.

Mrs. Cheryl Bazard, Deputy Chairman, is a leader in the legal profession whose passion for justice shines through her work.

Dr. David Allen’s community work and research is well documented. His experience serving those less fortunate has been an essential contribution.

I would also like to recognize Archdeacon James Palacious. Justice is, after all, a spiritual concept. It is God’s work.

The presence of the Bahamas Bar Association, in the person of Mrs. Nicole Sutherland-King, represents Bar’s support for and commitment to this effort.

I would like to thank all of you for your stewardship.

In part, we are opening today because of our partnerships with the United States National Center for State Courts through the United States Embassy and the Inter-American Development Bank. Both organizations utilized their network of imminently qualified trainers and provided funding to ensure that our public defenders are fully prepared to vigorously advocate on behalf of their clients.

Finally, I must also applaud the Attorney-General and the staff at the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Legal Affairs for their commitment to the kind of growth and change that has amounted to real benefits for the Bahamian people in the fight against crime.

We see the well-known Martin Luther King Jr. quote made true; that “Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.”

Today, the opening of the Office of the Public Defender is the fruit of our tireless exertions and passionate concern. It represents true and lasting progress in our pledge to make the administration of justice swift, sure and fair.