Legal professionals did not hesitate to voice their views on Tuesday morning during a special sitting at the High Court to mark the start of the new law year, expressing their opinions on everything from the state of court facilities to the Jury Act.
Director of Public Prosecutions Kim Hollis, QC, spoke publicly at the event for the first time since taking over from former DPP Wayne Rajbansie on Aug. 29.
“I regard it as an honour and a privilege to have been appointed and been given the opportunity to serve the British Virgin Islands and its people,” she said. “I know there are high expectations of me and I hope that I will not disappoint.”
Ms. Hollis said she has already implemented a “number of changes” to the department, such as creating teams of specialist prosecutors who will become experts in their chosen field.
The director said the five teams will focus on murder and gang/drug crime; sexual offences; people trafficking and cross-jurisdictional work; financial crime; or asset forfeiture and confiscation.
Additionally, Ms. Hollis voiced her support for a new Jury Act, which would provide for alternate jurors and other jury reform, and for legislation that would offer greater protection to at-risk witnesses.
“I have proposed, and hope that it will be swiftly enacted, some important legislative changes in order to give the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the courts effective tools in relation to trials where witnesses are either vulnerable or in need of special protection,” she said.
See the Sept. 22, 2016 edition for full coverage.
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