Refurbishing of this country’s courts and the implementation of various training programmes have been placed on hold, as financing allocated to the judiciary has been drastically slashed by the Government, Chief Justice Ivor Archie said during yesterday’s opening of the new law term

According to Chief Justice Archie, while some $349 million was requested, only $42.5 million was received and this would affect how the judiciary runs its affairs for the new session. This disclosure caused those in attendance to gasp with many shaking their heads in amazement.

As a result, Justice Archie said: ’There will be no Family Court roll out this year without a significant supplementary appropriation ... and our ability to deliver on the refurbishment of physical facilities, especially in the Magistrates’ Courts, is severely restricted.’

However, he said the judiciary was not one to cry ’over spilt milk’.

’We will just do the best we can, as always,’ Justice Archie said.

Speaking to reporters following Justice Archie’s address, Attorney General John Jeremie, who viewed the entire proceedings, said: ’It is a difficult year, there have been cuts in budgets. The Prime Minister’s Office has been cut by 50 per cent. I am not sure what aspect of the budget was reduced and as a result some projects have been phased and this applies to all ministries.’