Giovanna Debono backs opposition motion on Gozo courts

Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono this morning seconded a private member's motion presented by Labour MP Justyne Caruana calling for better status for the law courts in Gozo.

The motion calls for the courts in Gozo to be given their proper status - particularly as a limited number of superior court cases are being held in Gozo by a Magistrate. It also calls on the Committee for the Codification of Laws (which is presided by Nationalist MP Franco Debono) to prepare legislation for the courts in Gozo to have a higher status.

Dr Caruana praised the minister for seconding the motion, saying that in important matters such as this, Gozitans spoke with one voice.

In an address Dr Caruana also called for better facilities in the law courts in Gozo. Too often, she said, Gozitans felts they were children of a lesser God. Gozo, she said, needed to be better integrated in the judicial system in Malta.

The Gozo courts should have a sitting judge, not only a magistrate, and it should enjoy the dignitary befitting it.

Labour MP Anton Refalo said he hardly expected the government to nominate a judge for the Gozo courts when, in a quarter century, it had done absolutely nothing for the courts in Gozo. This government, he said, had not even installed a generator at the courts and sittings were put off even when electricity failed. The people in Gozo, he said, should be treated like the people all over Malta.

Nationalist MP Frederick Azzopardi said the government had identified a central site which was suitable for a new law courts building in Gozo, but unfortunately some people had circulated a petition and were objecting to the project. The government was considering its position but the project was still on the cards, he said.

Mrs Debono said she had seconded the motion because of the suggestions that were being made, although she disagreed with some comments that had been expressed.

She agreed that the system in Gozo needed to be reviewed, in view of the increased number of cases that were being submitted in the courts. In order for the competence of the Gozo court to be raised, a judge needed to be nominated to  serve in Gozo and she was sure that whoever was responsible would work to realise this reality. The laws also needed to be updated with regard to the administration of justice in Gozo.

Mrs Debono said she disagreed that the courts in Gozo were not being given their dignity because some superior court cases were being heard by a Magistrate. No people had their rights prejudiced because their case was heard by a magistrate rather than a judge.

Justice Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici underlined the progress made in the courts in Gozo, particularly in the reduction of the cases backlog.

Civil cases pending in Gozo had dropped by 53% in 10 years, despite a consistent number of newly-introduced cases. Some 5,300 cases had been decided thanks to the two magistrates in Gozo.

There were only 600 pending cases before the First Hall of the Civil Courts.

Some facilities were introduced in Gozo before Malta. For example, in Gozo, the documents of all cases were scanned, making greater efficiency possible since magistrates did not need to take many documents home with them to consider their cases.

In his address Dr Mifsud Bonnici said Gozo should continue to have two Magistrates and he was of an open mind about whether a judge should be assigned there. He was, however, against using video conferencing between Malta and Gozo said viva-voce testimony was always the preferred option.

He also confirmed that the government wanted to see the Gozo courts move to a more suitable building.

Opposition justice spokesman Jose' Herrera said that the assignment of a judge to Gozo appeared to be a good idea, given the increased workload, and this should be discussed. At present, the courts in Gozo were far too limited with regards to appeals constitutional cases and commercial partnership cases, among others. However he felt there was still some time before trials by jury would be held in Gozo.

The motion was approved at the end of the sitting.