Monday, despite the resumption of the clerks' strike this Monday, October 2 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21528-haiti-news-zapping.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21490-haiti-news-zapping.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21424-haiti-news-zapping.html and the ultimatum of the Magistrates https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22288-haiti-justice-ultimatum-of-the-magistrates-before-the-unlimited-strike.html President Jovenel Moïse, accompanied by Prime Minister Jack Guy Lafontant, attended the opening of the judicial year 2017-2018.

The ceremony presided over by Jules Cantave, President of the Court of Cassation, was attended by several ministers including Heidi Fortuné (Justice), Max Rudolph St Albin (interior) and Aviol Fleurant (Planning).

The Head of State renewed his determination to improve the functioning of the judicial system and the working conditions of staff in order to make them more effective in the exercise of their functions and the establishment of the rule of law in Haiti.

After a review of the activities carried out in the various judicial courts of the country during the judicial year 2016-17, the President of the Court of Cassation called for the unity of the three powers to find lasting solutions to the problems of the judicial system.

Me Stanley Gaston, President of the Federation of Bar of Haiti, has for his part welcomed the actions taken by his colleagues, including the Bar of Port-au-Prince, which actively participates in the "Task Force" set up by the Ministry of Justice to combat prolonged pre-trial detention and to facilitate the reform of the judicial system.

Minister Fortuné outlined the vision and the various actions of the government aimed at strengthening the capacity of state institutions, including the judicial system to transform Haiti into a State of Law. He also recalled the actions of the Moise-Lafontant administration, which aims to combat prolonged pre-trial detention. To this end, he referred to the Thémis plan, which involves all actors in the criminal chain and whose objective is to minimize the number of cases of preventive detention in the system.

Finally, the Minister mentioned the active involvement of the Superior Council of the Judiciary (CSPJ) in the establishment of an insurance coverage for clerks, the granting of wage increases to certain staff in order to resolve permanently the problems which hinder the proper functioning of the judiciary.

HL/ HaitiLibre