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ADDRESS BY
PRIME MINISTER
RT. HON P.J. PATTERSON, P.C., Q.C.
AT
OFFICIAL OPENING
OF THE
JUSTICE TRAINING INSTITUTE
ON
1997 JULY 24 AT 5:00 P.M.
GREETINGS AND OPENING REMARKS
This evening's function marks the
implementation by this Administration of yet
another measure aimed at improving the
quality of justice received by the public.
UWI LIBRARIES
The establishment of the Justice Training
Institute is another demonstration of this
Administration's commitment to the
development of the nation's system of justice,
and the development of the human resource
base.
I do not speak of them as alternatives, but as
being in need of simultaneous action - since
the one contributes to the other.
Both areas are essential to the advancement of
the society.
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UWI LIBRARIES
Without justice there can be no social stability.
Without social stability there will be no
economic growth.
And, of course, without adequately trained and
knowledgeable personnel, the scope for
economic advancement will be severely limited.
The opening of the Justice Training Institute
fallows the opening last year of the Regional
Drug Training Centre at Twickenham. Park in
St. Catherine.
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UWI LIBRARIES
This Administration has also been responsible
for the introduction of the graduate entry
programme in the Jamaica Constabulary Force,
and the radical reform of the training
curriculum at the Police Academy.
The decision has been taken to rationalize the
Island Special Constabulary and integrate it
with the Jamaica Constabulary Force/rhis will
result in a uniform and improved professional
standard for the Constabulary.
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UWI LIBRARIES
These and other initiatives d@rnonstra.te a clear
trend by this Governrnen t to irn prove our
detection capability and the quality of justice to
the public through the investment of significant
financial resources in the training of the
appropriate personnel.
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UWI LIBRARIES
The Justice Training Institute will have
responsibility for designing, organ1s1ng,
coordinating and conducting training
programmes in Justice Administration for all
legal and non -legal personnel in the several
departments which function as part of the
justice system.
The Government has recognised the need to
provide quality training for all the persons
within the Justice system.
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UWI LIBRARIES
We have to make available facilities which will
stimulate and foster the growth and
development of Judicial thought that will
impact favourably upon our jurisprudence. It
has to be a continuous process of intellectual
renewal.
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UWI LIBRARIES
This is crucial to the development of our
manpower and will place at the disposal of the
nation, persons trained within the system who
are committed to respond to the needs of the
Justice system with the capability to perform at
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the level of efficiency which the country
demands.
It is this satisfactory level of performance which
will create favourable public perception and
weld confidence in our Justice Administration
process.
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UWI LIBRARIES
With the establishment of the Justice Training
Institute, Judges now have a permanent
training facility to which they can relate as they
fulfill their training and development needs. It
is a facility which will provide a source of
reference when they need to rely on resource
and research material.
The Justice Training Institute will be able to
provide training consistent with National
Development goals by planning ahead in the
light of projected needs based on research
findings.
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UWI LIBRARIES
It will be able to make rational decisions as to
how best we use and multiply the resources
which are available and those which are
required.
It will serve as more than a mere training
facility, since it will function with a vision of
the nation's future needs in terms of Justice
Administration. It will, by directing training,
satisfy the anticipated needs.
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UWI LIBRARIES
The verdict, after trial, whether civil or
criminal, results in the end of one process that
eventually culminates in a final appellate
decision.
This will accord with the established system,
but does not necessarily or always, result in
justice according to its true and broadest
concept.
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UWI LIBRARIES
The system. can som.etim.es · be distorted or
m.anipulated by those who are rich or devious
enough to do so.
Recently, a frustrated civil litigant wrote m.e, as
Prim.e Minister, to state that it is incum.bent on
those who govern to ensure that we do not
allow practitioners to m.ake a m.ockery of the
legal system..
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UWI LIBRARIES
The question was posed starkly -
"Is pulling a gun or drawing a machete on
one's abuser, the only effective way to
promptly resolve a problem?"
We dare not allow any manipulation of the
court system to contribute to the lawlessness
which threatens to tear this country apart.
The v1s1on of this Government is of a justice
system which provides a fair, independent
accessible, understandable and efficient means
of determining rights and resolving disputes.
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UWI LIBRARIES
It seeks to preserve and interpret the evolving
rule of law and protect all rights and liberties
guaranteed by the Jamaican Constitution.
We realise that a crucial factor to the protection
of our communities is ensuring that people,
especially persons who are without economic
power, feel that they also have rights and their
welfare is being fully protected by the state.
The Government has placed a great deal of
emphasis on modernising the justice system
with people at the centre of the programme.
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UWI LIBRARIES
Let us accept that we cannot do business as
usual in our courts. Let us strive to be more
sensitive to the needs of the parties and
witness, and rededicate ourselves to the
proposition that courts exist to serve people.
Let us move to improve the speed and efficiency
of our Criminal courts to the extent we can do
so without sacrificing the fundamental tenets
of justice.
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UWI LIBRARIES
All of us gathered here today, are the builders
of justice, the builders of freedom. The system
of justice is built on a solid foundation, our
Constitution. It is a system that must not be
subject to arbitrary change, but must remain
flexible and relevant to contemporary
circumstances.
We must always remember that the house of
justice is no better than the people who use
and occupy it.
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UWI LIBRARIES
I am asking all of us to become master builders
of justice. I am asking each member of the
justice system to ensure that the structure
remains constantly developing, building new
edifices and fulfilling the needs of the people
who must use it.
I am asking each member of the Bar to help us
build a better and more corn plete system of
justice.
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UWI LIBRARIES
I am also asking the community and the
members of the press to join us in this vision of
the future.
Together, let us build a strong house of justice
of which all can be proud.
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UWI LIBRARIES
