A DECISION should be made in the Arch Cot Inquiry by yearend.
Chief Justice Marston Gibson told the DAILY NATION yesterday he had responded to concerns of attorneys during the last sitting on November 24, which saw Acting Coroner Faith Marshall-Harris adjourning the hearing.
Queen’s Counsel Clyde Turney raised the question as to whether Acting Coroner Marshall-Harris had the authority to continue to preside over the proceedings that started in October last year.
In between that time Marshall-Harris, the then coroner, retired and Magistrate Deborah Holder was appointed Acting Coroner.
Marshall-Harris was later appointed as Acting Coroner as well.
Turney cited Caption 113, 2A of the revised Coroner’s Act that provided for the appointment of a Coroner of Barbados who shall have jurisdiction in all districts. Based on the law, Turney submitted that Holder was the Coroner for Barbados.
All the other attorneys involved in the inquest into the death of a family of five following the August 26, 2007 collapse of the Shalom Apartments at Arch Cot, Brittons Hill, St Michael, concurred.
It was recommended that the matter be adjourned for the necessary constitutional motion to be filed, which would allow Marshall-Harris to preside over the remaining sittings, and offer a decision.
Gibson said he had acted on the matter.
“It’s well on its way to being resolved. I sent a response to the Acting Coroner [Faith Marshall-Harris] and I will send a response
to the attorneys as well to let them know what my proposed recommendation is. But on my schedule, it should still be done by the end of the year,” he stated.
