Attorney General, Sen. Hon. Ryan Pinder contributed to the 2024-2025 budget debate in the senate on Thursday.

During his presentation the Attorney General told senators seven murder cases resulted in convictions, there were 2 acquittals, 3 plea agreements, 19 nolle prosequis and four defendants died. “It should be noted that only nine of the murder matters were disposed of during a trial process last year. This is primarily due to that fact of the lack of a report from a pathologist at the time of trial. The shortage of pathology expert and the delay or the absence of reporting are of great consequence to the criminal justice system in this country,” he said.

Pinder also noted that infrastructure and laboratories are also needed to support pathologists. He said, “the minister of health advises that budgeted this year though a loan with the IDB is a new reference laboratory to support the timely reports and the timely evaluations to help the prosecutions of murder matters in the DPP.”

Also contributing to the case backlog is the loss of attorneys at the Department of Public Prosecutions. The Attorney General said, “in early 2024, the office advertised locally and throughout the Commonwealth region and has received a number of applications to fill posts. We anticipate and additional ten prosecutors within the coming months, four will start on the 1st of July. This year we were able to complete a total of 171 matters for the year, that’s for 2023. With the increase in attorneys given the remuneration benefits that have increased as well as the health insurance and other benefits we hope to be able to double that number.”

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