Chuck continues push for speedy trials

JUSTICE Minister Delroy Chuck, who is insisting criminal cases must be disposed of “within a reasonable time” to avoid constitutional breaches, says he will be caucusing with Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Claudette Thompson to discuss, among other things, greater use of plea bargaining.

“The parish courts are doing a fantastic job in terms of removing the backlog. And I’m hoping that even though the Supreme Court — you’re now at about 70 to 80 per cent— that in short order you will be over 100 per cent.

“At the Ministry of Justice level we want to help to see how best we can get matters moving… I think far too many cases are being tried,” the justice minister told the opening ceremony of the 2026 Strategic Management Retreat at AC Courtyard by Marriott in St Andrew.