Following Pres. Joe Boakai’s Assertion That The Judiciary Is “Marred By Inefficiency”
PHOTO: Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah, LNBA National Secretary
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia – The National Secretary of the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA), Cllr. Bornor Varmah has told members of the Public Defenders Association that the integrity of the Judiciary is being placed under the microscope.
His statement comes in the wake of President Joseph Nyumah Boakai’s assertion that, “our justice system which is meant to protect the innocent and punish the guilty, has been marred by inefficiency, corruption, and lack of public trust. “
Speaking over the weekend at the 6th convention of the National Public Defenders Association at the Temple of Justice, said, the LNBA official said whether or not President Boakai’s statement was made in good faith or not, it something that they as leaders at the LNBA needs to be find out.
They as members of the Bar needs to engage President Boakai to hear from him concerning his statement mentioned above and proffered the necessary recommendations in the new dispensation.
But multiple assessments reports from international partners about the performance of the Judiciary, it being alleged that the judiciary is corrupt and lack of integrity among others LNBA Secretary General added.
Cllr. Varmah called on Chief Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh, to keep her office open to the Bar leadership in discussing issues of reform she has initiated adding that there must be a parallel shift in the reform process of the Judiciary.
He narrated that when the Public Defense program was founded in 2009, we could see the public defenders with pickups, laptops and attracted salaries because at that time, there were lots of sufficient donor supports attracted to the Association “ .
The LNBA National Secretary General furthered that with the prevailing situation confronted public defenders with a consolidated positions between the Bar and Supreme Court Bench to see the well-functioning of the public defender.
“As welcome President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and his government, we begin to discuss all of this.”
Access to Justice remains very key and public defense has a critical role to play just as prosecutors. He reminded Chief Yuoh how the LNBA intervened in a nationwide protest staged by government lawyers last year stating that the same problems being faced by public defenders, is also being faced by state prosecutors.
“How do we enhance access to justice, how do we increase productivity and efficiency when those who go to court to advocate on behalf of clients are not supported properly “.
However, Cllr. Varmah lauded Chief Justice Yuoh for her outburst on the implementation of the financial autonomy act of the Judiciary so that lots of money will be given to the Judiciary so members of public defense and others court actors can benefit.