It doesn't get the same attention as the criminal proceedings that cause sensational headlines, but civil procedures are an important part of the administration of justice in Belize. But it is a widely neglected area of practice and that's why for the past 3 years, the judiciary has been developing new civil procedure rules to replace the 79-year-old laws that currently govern civil procedures in the supreme court. Today after much shaping and reshaping, the rules were introduced to the bench and bar as well as the general public. Chief Justice Abdulai Conteh outlined the workings of the new civil procedures.
Abdulai Conteh, Chief Justice
"The reason for the new rules, I would say, is to help in the due and proper administration of justice and the overriding objective of the rules is stated in rule one of the rules themselves which briefly, succinctly, is to enable the court to deal with cases justly. It has been determined that come the 4th of April, which is a couple of days from now, Monday to be exact, the new rules will be enforced and any member of the public, and attorneys, wanting to approach the Supreme Court for any case, by matrimonial causes and insolvency proceedings, would have to have a course to the new rules of court. They tell you how to bring a case, this involves also some change of vocabulary. For Monday we will no longer have plaintiffs, we will have claimants; that is really what the person is. The objective of the rules, part of its objective, is to simplify proceedings to make it less costly, less cumbersome, and much more intelligible most to the ordinary public who are really the reason why we are in business when they do choose to come to court. The whole ethos of the rules is to induce cooperation between the parties and between the attorneys as well. Attorneys are expected to come with their clients, it is not anymore when you send off your attorney to attend court for you, you must come with your client so that what is ordered, you know why it is and you are informed immediately. Once a case is set for trial, its either you go or you pay, it will not be adjourned. In other words, all the preliminary work would have been done so the day that it is given you must go for that date and the trial will commence. If you don't go then somebody will pay. And of course hopefully because of the new format of the rules, delay in rendering judgment will be few and far between."
Michel Chebat, Bar President
"I know the Bar welcomes these new rules and obviously there will be some problems initially until all of us are able to properly learn ourselves and understand these new rules. But we are sure with time things will flow smoothly."
The new civil procedures come into effect next week Monday.
