More $$ for justice system; DPP's office to get 6 assistant DPPs

AG Anand Ramlogan: "The increase in the number of cases is not matched by the staffing."

Attorney General Anand Ramlogan announced on Thursday that cabinet has approved changes to the organisation structure of the Judiciary and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) that would 207 additional staff in the office of the DPP, including six assistant DPPs.

The changes would improve the criminal justice system and allow for the abolition of preliminary enquiries, he said.

Speaking at the post-Cabinet news briefing Ramlogan announced the state has already allocated the money for staff and infrastructure. The staff at the DPP's office would increase from 30 to 237. 

“The current structure has never been revised since 1976. This is a historic development as it is now revised. It is long overdue since we have been experiencing a rise in crime. The increase in the number of cases is not matched by the staffing,” Ramlogan said.

Ramlogan said the DPP has been “stressed to its limit” so the changes would increase by 29 the number of lawyers in the department. And there would be six assistant DPPs.

The AG also gave details of changes to magistrates and high courts with respect to infrastructure and staffing.

"We would like to make the timeline for the implementation of the abolition of preliminary hearings. It depends on how quickly the positions are filled and the response to the advertised vacancies. We are doing our part to meet the stakeholders halfway if be so," Ramlogan said.