Magistrate Harris gives assurance legal practitioners, litigants will be treated with respect

The St. Kitts and Nevis Bar Association said Friday it has received assurances that legal practitioners and litigants will be treated with respect by Magistrate Donna Harris.

The Bar Association's statement Friday followed one issued earlier in the week by its president, Dahlia Joseph Rowe that gave support to a decision of the Director of Public Prosecution, Valston Graham to pull his prosecutorial officers and orderlies the court room of Magistrate Donna Harris, a sister of Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris, after she threw out a Crown Counsel.

In its statement Friday, the Bar Association again commended "Graham for taking a strong stand in defence of a member of the Bar, Crown Counsel Teshaun Vasquez," following the recent incident involving Magistrate Donna Harris.

Referring to responses by political activists for the government, including attorney  Terrance Byron Jr., the Bar president noted "the various comments, allegations and discussions in the media recently, some of which are intended to portray the Bar Association in a negative light and make allegations against Vasquez and others to distract the public from the issues at hand."

"The sole focus and aim of the Council of the St. Kitts and Nevis Bar Association in the recent issue is to see that the Magistrate's Court is conducted in a way that is professional and respectful to all who use the services of the Court, including Attorneys-at-Law, so that we have a justice system that inspires confidence in those who approach the Court seeking justice," the Bar said.

The Bar noted that as a result of a request by DPP Graham for a meeting "a speedy resolution has been reached in the interest of the administration of justice" and looked "forward to the Magistrate's Court being conducted in a manner which respects the role of legal practitioners as being integral to our system of justice and the protection of the rights of litigants."