Gov’t vows to respect judicial independence
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  Tuesday, December 21, 2010

The Government of the Gambia through the Vice President has expressed its
resolve to continue to always respect the independence and impartiality of
the judiciary at all times, and called on the bench and bar to be wary of
the expectations of the Gambian people.

Vice President Njie-Saidy, on behalf of President Yahya Jammeh, Sunday
officially opened the 2010/2011 legal year, and delivered the speech in
which President Jammeh also called on the bench and bar to be guided by the
adage: “Justice delayed is justice denied”.

According to President Jammeh, a vibrant, efficient and effective judicial
system is, without doubt, an important and indispensable prerequisite for
achieving accelerated growth and development.

“Not only is a functional legal and judicial system necessary for advancing
social cohesion, it acts as a catalytic source for confidence building among
local communities, individuals, as well as the international community of
donors and investors in search of collaborative business ventures in the
Gambia,” he stated.

The President described the Legal Year Day as an important national calendar
event in the Gambia.

“This day gives us the opportunity in which we jointly reflect on the
achievements of the legal sector in the past and previous years, and bring
to the fore the challenges that stand in the way towards making the Gambia’s
justice and justice delivery system one of the best, and possibly second to
none, the world over,” he added.

The journey, he further noted, has not been easy, nor will it be that easy,
especially given the limited financial resources; but with sustained
determination, the vision of becoming the world’s best in legal and judicial
administration is, without doubt, attainable.

The President went on to reveal plans to establish, by early 2011, a bar
school to enable students graduating from the Law School of the University
of the Gambia receive their training in law up to professional level, and on
home soil.

Also speaking at the ceremony was the Chief Justice of the Gambia, Justice
Emmanuel Agim, who underscored the importance of the ceremony, stating that
it signifies government’s commitment to the rule of law, its faith in the
legal system as an assurance of the rule of law, as well as its hope in the
legal system, particularly the judiciary to protect our lives, rights and
interests and provide a peaceful, happy and secure society.

“It also demonstrated our understanding that our plans and initiatives for
the development, social, economic and political transformation of our
society can only be effected by law, and our understanding that how law is
administered by institutions of the administration of law like the
judiciary, the Ministry of Justice, the bar, the police and similar
institutions directly affect the realization of our development and the
transformation of our society,” Chief Justice Agim further stated.

He added that the speedy dispensation of justice and the widening of access
for all have remained their cardinal principle.

The minister of Justice, Edward Gomez, in his statement, among other things,
also underscored the importance of the Legal Year, noting that it is an
important component of the criminal justice system in the Gambia.

“It is a requirement under section 24(3) of the constitution that a person
charged with an offence, which carries a punishment of life imprisonment or
death, shall be entitled to a legal aid at the expense of the State,” he
said, adding that the right to legal aid in such cases is a fundamental
right.

“It is also related to being presumed innocent until proven guilty, and the
right to a fair and impartial trial, to name but a few,” he concluded.

Author: *Malamin Conteh*
Source: *Picture: VP Isatou Njie Saidy*

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GOD BLESS SHEIKH PROFESSOR ALHAGIE YAHYA AJJ JAMMEH*
*(PRESIDENT FOR LIFE.)*
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*GOD BLESS THE GAMBIA*
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*GOD BLESS APRC*
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*DOWN WITH THE FAILED OPPOSITION *


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