On the physical side, with socio-economic implications that will rev­erb­erate through­­­­out its lifetime, the new gas-fired power station at Delimara is the largest project that was put forward by the Labour government.

In a different sphere, there is coming into shape another big project that has been delayed for far too long: a structural reform of the justice system.

Others have been saying it for us. According to the 2014 EU Justice Scoreboard, Malta’s justice system is the second-most inefficient in the European Union. All those who have to take recourse under the system know that.

The most unpopular shortcomings are the delays that prevail whenever one is part of a case in our law courts. The sheer frustration of daily occurrence in the courts, at whatever level.

But the shortcomings are deeper than that and there is need for urgent improvement. The Reform Commission, established by the government as one of its first initiatives to bring focus on an extremely important sector, identified no fewer than 450 areas where it could make sound recommendations for action.

Not everybody will agree with all the recommendations, but the fact that they were made by a high-powered and experienced commission operating far beyond any partisan line and whose only interest was to propose how structural reform could take place lends total credence to the proposals.

Court delays remain at the root of the analysis leading to the recommendations. This factor was highlighted in a meeting held last week between Owen Bonnici, the Justice Parliamentary Secretary, and Helena Dalli, Minister for Social Dialogue, with members of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.

The system of justice affects everyone but it is not everyone’s cup of tea

Dr Dalli, representing the best ministerial timber available to the Prime Minister, who could easily take on more responsibility in the forthcoming reshuffle, linked justice reform to foreign investment, which is a fundamental key to the island’s development.

She said foreign investors would think twice before dealing with a country where civil cases dragged on for years.

Dr Bonnici observed that court delays were one of the issues tackled in the justice reform now in the consultation stage. It is not by any means the only issue targeted by the Reform Commission.

Among other things, the commission proposed that additional disciplinary powers be given to the Council for the Administration of Justice.

This is one area that will, no doubt, occupy the new President of the Republic, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, after also having been identified for action by outgoing President George Abela.

It is an area begging for revision which, one hopes, can take place over the three years Dr Bonnici said it would take to implement the commission’s recommendations after consultations ended.

Related to that review is how judges are appointed and can be removed. The commission also recommended setting up a prosecutions office, fast tracking cases of domestic violence, extending the use of meditation beyond the Family Court, introducing moral damages up to €25,000, reforming the legal aid system and setting up a customer care department in court.

The system of justice affects everyone but it is not everyone’s cup of tea. Few, outside the legal class understand it.

That popular gap should also be addressed. I suggest recommendations that affect the public are identified and parcelled together to be offered to the public to digest. The reform should not be a lawyer’s paradise or an elitist adventure.

Its essence, once agreed upon, should be communicated to the people at large so that there is better understanding about how the system works and one’s potential involvement in it.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.