GAMBIAN JUDICIARY UNVEILS STATUE FOR JUSTICE

By A Staff Writer

On Wednesday 1^st of February 2012, the Gambian Judiciary unveiled the first ever Lady Statue stationed at the Center of the High Court Premises and representing speedy of Justice for all, while discouraging delayed of Justice as eluded by the Chief Justice of the Gambia His Lordship Emmanuel Akomoyae Agim

Speaking to this reporter shortly after the unveiling ceremony, the Chief Justice indicated that the unveiling of the Lady Statue is a symbol of Justice and it further signifies Justice World Wide. He said in most of the Court Systems it shows the location of Justice further noting that the scale is there to show the balance of Justice adding that one has to look at both sides of any case before making decisions on them and that all sides be given equal opportunity in the process of the trial.

The C. J added that openness and equality of opportunity in the Justice System, Fair Trial, Balancing of the Claims are all among the key ingredients of any meaningful Justice System.

He Chief Justice of the Republic of the Gambia outlined that it is the duty of all persons to work towards effective and efficient delivery of Justice including the Bar, the Bench, and the General Public respectively. The C. J vehemently denied the claim that individuals or Companies suing the state tend to loose their case in an instance where the state appeared to be the defendant or respondent. He said the records of the Gambian Justice System can show series of examples where the state looses cases involving individuals citizens or private companies. He said it does not matter which is the party confirming that the Judges decided according to Law and the facts of the case.

He said there are no bases of having fear urging those who have cases to put in their case before the Court Level and to defend your case if the prosecution has put a case against you but not to do propaganda which may turn negative. He said the law is no respecter of a Person that they are not interested to know whether the case is from the state or from private or big or small or rich or poor, what matter are the facts of the case and what law should be applied. He said no Court or Judge will send a person to prison because the state has charge that particular person. He said they deal with cases that are brought before them and then decided on evidence that is led before them.

He said one need to have the proper statistics to be able to equate whether the crime rate in the Gambia is on the increase or on the decrease adding that to know the number of criminal cases that arose in the previous years comparing to the recent years will help one to know the proper statistics.

The Judicial Secretary of the High Court Mr. John Belford also reiterated the statements of the Chief Justice confirming that the statue is found in most of the High Courts in the world. He said the other arm carried a scale which represents a symbol of Justice while the other is a sword. He said it is normally called a blind lady that is why the eye is covered, meaning that justice is justice; you do it without affection or ill will.