LAWYERS, DEFENDANTS, business people, potential investors and the average Barbadian are waiting to exhale over what’s in store for the judicial system in the next coming months.
Earlier this week the magistrates had a two-day retreat, and the suggestion is that some of their discussions may form part of the overall plan to improve the much maligned system when the Chief Justice speaks at the annual grand opening of the Assizes in October.
From what Cou Cou has been told, the magistracy is very concerned about security around the courts after a young man was stopped, allegedly with a loaded gun, from entering the precincts of the District A Magistrate’s Court.
He may also speak on the appointment of new magistrates and judges, too, to help speed up the number of cases that can be heard. The delay in cases has been ruining Barbados’ reputation for the delivery of prompt justice and has led increasingly to suspected murderers being released on bail. It has also drawn the ire of the Caribbean Court of Justice who has red-marked Barbados more than once for their tardiness.
What many want to hear from the Chief Justice, too, is how he intends to clear up the backlog of cases, and if he might be commenting on the possible appointment of at least three new judges to help also is how he intends to clear up the backlog of cases. Will he be appointing at least two new judges to manage that process in the High Court and get two new magistrates to sit specifically to deal with similar matters there?
Quite frankly, the Chief Justice is in the hot seat. Everyone wants a change for the better and are looking for him to effect these changes, as since he came on board on September 1, 2011, the efficiency of the judicial system has continued to deteriorate.
Small tax, big bite
IT’S GOING TO be Christmas in August for some retailers over the next five days.
At least, that’s what some merchants are predicting for the end of this month as they expect Bajans to ram supermarkets and hardware stores trying to get essentials and other items ahead of the imposition of the new tax on September 1.
Word from merchants is that consumers can expect to pay between four to six per cent more for goods when the two per cent National Social Responsibility Levy is imposed. And though that may seem insignificant, it adds up per item.
For example, a person who would normally spend $250 in groceries this month end, would have to fork out as much as $265 for the same items in September. And that is only food. The same mark-up would be on clothes, shoes, underwear, hair products, beauty supplies, pet food and just about everything else.
So with Christmas coming up, some people may take the opportunity to shop early to avoid the price increases.
One merchant told Cou Cou he expects a lot of money will be spent on liquor in particular as prices there are already relatively high, and the new tax will only worsen this. As he explained it, bottles of the most popular spirits, the so-called “big mout” drinks, are on average over $100 for one-litre bottles.
For most people who entertain around Christmas, they would invest a minimum of about $1 800 in the various brands of whiskeys, gins, vodkas, liqueurs, plus wines, beers, mixers and chasers. A hike as much as six per cent – about $108 – matters as that would be nearly the cost of hiring two people to help serve for the night at their party. So though the levy appears to be a small tax, it will have a big bite.
