| |
Contact:
Virnet St. Omer-Fontenelle
Friday, August 06, 2004 - The Report of the Family Law Committee of the
St. Lucia Civil Code Reform Project was officially handed to the Government of
St. Lucia on Thursday, August 12, 2004 at the Registry. The report was funded
jointly by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the
Government of St. Lucia.
Speaking at a ceremony to mark the occasion, Attorney General Senator Petrus
Compton said that the report was part of a revolution in the judicial system, to
repair years of neglect which has brought the system to near collapse.
“In 1997, the judiciary was in as bad a state as it is today. When I was called
to the bar in 1992, one of the first things I was told by senior lawyers was
that I may not have very long to practise because the whole system was about to
collapse. Thankfully, due to the hard work and dedication of those who work in
the system it has not yet collapsed. But it was clear to the honourable Prime
Minister and myself that we had to effect a revolution in the judicial and legal
system of this country,” the Attorney General said.
He said that the Family Law Review together with the complete reform of the
criminal code, constitutional reform and changes to the magistracy were part of
the revolution, which had been progressing steadily.
Minister for Health Human Services, Family Affairs and Gender Relations,
Honourable Damian Greaves said that the report had long-ranging implications for
all areas of family interaction: “There is going to be a radical transformation
of the society insofar as that corner stone called the family is concerned,
issues regarding maintenance … custody of children … physical and sexual abuse …
how much does a father pay in a situation of divorce… the family law situation
is not the panacea for the change we are looking for, but it must be accompanied
by other requisite changes in the society.”
He referred to changes in the way social workers practise their craft, education
as well as the academic side of drafting legislation.
The Attorney General’s Office has promised a public campaign to put the draft
report in the hands of every St. Lucian, who are desirous of reading it. The
report will be made available on line, as well as through the office.
Senator Compton also gave a commitment to instituting a system to receive
feedback on the draft report.
|
