CMC – The judiciary in The Bahamas officially relaunched its digital court reporting system.
During a ceremony to mark the system’s relaunch on Friday, Chief Justice Sir Ian Winder said the digital platform is extremely beneficial because it increases the court’s reporting capacity so matters can move through the justice system more quickly.
“We have 29 court reporters. They have not been an easy resource to secure in The Bahamas,” he said. “Our reality, therefore, has been that due to the limited number of court reporters, there has been no court reporting in the Magistrate’s Court except in special circumstances and civil court reporters are accommodated only where there is availability. ”
“Additionally, because of the scarcity, there are understandably delays on getting transcripts returned to judicial officers and to the appellate court.”
But, with the FTR system, Winder said some of the judiciary’s needs will finally be addressed.
“In the age of transparency and accountability an accurate record of the proceedings before the court ought to be a right not a matter of chance,” the chief justice said.
“Whether for use on appeal or for judicial officers deliberating on the evidence presented or some submissions made by counsel, the judge is better aided by the verbatim account rather than his handwritten summary of the proceedings taken as the matter progressed.”
The digital system was first rolled out in the courts in 2015 but was met with “limited success.”
According to Winder, there were lessons learned from that experience. “We have been deliberate in this relaunch.”
He added that all but five civil courts” have been outfitted with the equipment needed to support the digital system.
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