Sidney Sweeting, DDS
While all Bahamians will agree that the Bahamian judiciary is in serious need of repair, I personally believe that the court system in Harbour Island could serve as the "poster boy" for all that is wrong in the judiciary. Law schools could send students to sit in their courts (if the presiding judge will allow them) to learn what magistrates and lawyers should NOT do in court.
Editorials have been written about them, many letters have appeared in the Press, and phone calls have been made to prominent politicians pleading for something to be done about the countless delays and absolute nonsense that takes up the time of the victims and witnesses resulting in the cases dragging on until, in most cases, the victims give up in frustration. Yet, nothing has been done and, in fact, it seems to be getting worse.
A Louisiana Law Journal in 1842 stated:
If it be admitted that the state does not prosecute vindictively, but merely to warn and hold up her punisments as a beacon to others, then it is a most important requisite, that the penalty should speedily follow the commission of crime. If in civil matters "Justice delayed is justice denied," in criminal cases tardy punishments are worse than useless.
